Military clean-up crews in camouflage and gas masks have arrived in Salisbury, England to deal with nine chemical “hotspots” left after the Novichok attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter.
Three army trucks brought soldiers and diggers to lift paving stones, bricks and turf on Tuesday. The operation began in the city centre where Mr Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, were found slumped on a bench on March 4. The clean-up crews are also expected to take soil samples during operations that will last months, possibly until Christmas.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said specialist teams from the Army, RAF and Ministry of Defence will carry out “thorough testing to ensure that any residual nerve agent used in the attack is chemically cleaned, or removed and safely destroyed”.
Defra’s chief scientific adviser Ian Boyd said last week that the deadly nerve agent remains in high concentrations at some locations in Salisbury.
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Russian spy poison was in 'liquid form'
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"We have to make an assumption that in certain circumstances there will be relatively high concentrations, probably in very, very specific locations, which could be at levels that could be toxic to individuals."
Defra’s priority is making the nine hotspots safe for the public. Each area is likely to contain traces of Novichok, possibly still as toxic as when the nerve agent was left there, Mr Boyd said.
The Skripals are thought to have come in contact with the poison in liquid format on the doorknob at Mr Skripal’s home.
The hotspots include Zizzi’s restaurant, where the pair ate lunch, the home of police detective sergeant Nick Bailey who was also poisoned, two ambulance stations and a police station. The garage where Mr Skripal parked his car will also be decontaminated.
Mr Skripal's home and the Mill pub, where the Skripals went after lunch, remain crime scenes and will be the last of the nine sites to be cleaned.
The military operation comes after the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons confirmed Britain's analysis that the nerve agent Novichok was used in the attack. Russia has denied any involvement.
Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills from Wiltshire Police said it was “business as usual” as soldiers in breathing apparatus and military uniformed moved around the market town. Public Health England have said the risk to the general public is low.
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch automatic
Power: 169bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh54,500
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Read more about the coronavirus
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
