Russian diplomats arrive home from Britain after spy attack

Nearly two dozen Russian diplomats expelled by Britain over the poisoning of an ex-spy have arrived home, while a scientist involved in the creation of the nerve agent said it could be manufactured by other countries.

Former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, are in critical condition in the English city of Salisbury after being poisoned on March 4. Britain said they were poisoned with a class of nerve agent known as Novichok and blamed Russia for the attack.

Russian scientist Leonid Rink told the state RIA Novosti news agency that Britain and others could easily synthesise Novichok after chemical expert Vil Mirzayanov emigrated to the US and revealed its formula.

"It's easily available to professionals, and there is no problem for Britain, the US and other developed nations to create such weapon," he said.

Rink said Novichok had a different name when it was designed in the Soviet Union, arguing that British officials used the name Novichok to convince the public that Russia was to blame for the poisoning.

Britain has dismissed claims the nerve agent could come from the UK On Sunday, Russia's ambassador to the EU suggested the nerve agent could have come from Britain's chemical weapons research facility, Porton Down. The British government said that was "nonsense."