Two men who have been named today as the suspects behind the Salisbury nerve agent attack stayed in a hotel in Bow after arriving in the UK, police have claimed.
Russian nationals Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov stayed at the City Stay Hotel in Bow Road, on March 2 and 3, before they are believed to have travelled to Salisbury.
An European Arrest Warrant has been obtained but the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it will not be applying to Russia for the extradition of the two men.
Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia survived the attempted assignation using Novichok however Dawn Sturgess died on July 8 after she later was exposed to the nerve agent which was smuggled into the country in a disguised perfume bottle.
Her partner Charlie Rowley survived.
On May 4 tests were carried out in the hotel room where the suspects had stayed which showed contamination of Novichok.
However the levels were below that which would cause concern for public health.
Further tests on the room produced negative results.
Investigators are working closely with Public Health England (PHE) as new information comes to light
Sue Hemming, CPS director of legal services, said: “Prosecutors from CPS Counter Terrorism Division have considered the evidence and have concluded there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction and it is clearly in the public interest to charge Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, who are Russian nationals.”
The offences include conspiracy to murder Sergei Skripal; the attempted murder of Sergei Skripal, Yulia Skripal and Nick Bailey; the use and possession of Novichok contrary to the Chemical Weapons Act; and causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Yulia Skripal and Nick Bailey.
Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Neil Basu said it is likely the suspects were travelling under aliases and Petrov and Boshirov are not their real names.They are believed to be aged around 40.
Having taken advice from Public Health England, we are confident that there was no risk to members of the public who were on the same flight, trains or public transport used by the suspects.
Police are asking that anyone who stayed at the City Stay Hotel between March 4 and May 4 call them 0800 789 321 or email Salisbury2018@met.police.uk. Staff from PHE will be on hand to give advice and reassurance.
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