Salisbury attack: Suspects identified as civilians

Russian authorities have identified the two suspects in the Salisbury chemical attack as its civilians.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, while addressing the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok, talked about the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury and divulged that the two suspects have been found, reported Sputnik.

"We know who they are, we have found them. I hope that they will show up and tell everything themselves. There is nothing particularly criminal there, I assure you," Putin said.

Last week, UK Prime Minister Theresa May, while addressing a Parliament session, held Russia accountable for the Salisbury attack and said that only Russia had the motive to carry out the attack as well as the technical means and operational experience.

She further accused Russia of orchestrating the attack and claimed that the suspects were related to the Russian intelligence. However, Russia refuted these claims.

Furthermore, the UK and 25 other western nations expelled Russian diplomatic workers in a display of solidarity.

The leaders of France, Germany, Unites States of America (U.S.A.) and Canada had also expressed "full confidence" in the United Kingdom's assessment that the two suspects in the Novichok attack, which took place in March this year, were officers from the Russian military intelligence service.

The Skripals were found unconscious at a shopping centre in Salisbury on March 4 and were admitted to a hospital soon after.