Disinfo: Porton Down might be responsible for the chemical attack in the UK

Summary

Porton Down is very close to the spot where the attack took place so they might be responsible, there are no evidence neither proving or disproving any theory at this point.

Disproof

Conspiracy theory, no evidence given. Many competing and contradictory stories promulgated by Russian state-controlled media, the only connecting thread being to confuse their audience and exclude any possibility of Russian involvement. euvsdisinfo.eu/disinformation-cases/?text=sergei+skripal&disinfo_issue=&date=, The toxin was identified as a nerve agent at Porton Down, which is Britain's military research base. They have not done tests with nerve agents since 1989, but are still able to identify these toxins, in order to protect British civilians and troops from attacks www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-43335148/porton-down-britain-s-secret-research-facility, The nerve agent has been identified as Novichok (which means newcomer in Russian). It is known to be more powerful than VX and was developed in Russia in the 1970s and 1980s www.voanews.com/a/british-prime-minister-russia-poisoning-spy/4294683.html, . It's so unusual, that very few scientists outside of Russia have any real experience in dealing with it and no country outside of Russia is known to have developed the substance edition.cnn.com/2018/03/13/europe/what-is-novichok-nerve-agent-intl/index.html, , theconversation.com/what-we-know-about-novichok-the-newby-nerve-agents-linked-to-russia-93264, In its statement, the European Union expressed shock at the offensive use of any military-grade nerve agent, of a type developed by Russia, for the first time on European soil in over 70 years. www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/03/19/statement-by-the-foreign-affairs-council-on-the-salisbury-attack/,

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 102
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 18/03/2018
  • Outlet language(s) , English
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: UK, Russia
  • Keywords: Sergei Skripal, Chemical weapons/attack
see more

Disinfo: Novichok could have come from UK, Sweden, Czech Republic or Slovakia

London used the poison “Novichok” in order to cause associations with Russia. Neither Russia nor the USSR has ever conducted research on the development of chemicals with the name “Novichok”. The most probable source of origin of the poison used in the attack in the UK is Great Britain, Slovakia, Czech Republic or Sweden. “The West is just trying to fool everyone and look away from what they did on their own in Syria and Iraq,”

Disproof

No evidence given. The Russian MFA Spokesperson Zacharova repeats the unfounded allegations first aired by Sputnik without presenting any evidence. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden forcefully rejected her statements, and so did the competent authority on the topic in Sweden (the Swedish Defence Research Agency). www.svt.se/nyheter/utrikes/ryssland-giftet-som-anvandes-mot-skripal-kan-ha-kommit-fran-sverige, Later on, the Russian ambassador to Sweden stated that it was "a guess" without any facts supporting it www.svt.se/nyheter/utrikes/ambassadoren-backar-efter-giftutspel, Also the Czech Foreign Minister Martin Stropnicky on Saturday denied Moscow's accusation that the nerve toxin used against a former Russian double agent and his daughter in southern England came from the Czech Republic. mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKCN1GT0ML?__twitter_impression=true, The nerve agent has been identified as Novichok (which means newcomer in Russian). It is known to be more powerful than VX and was developed in Russia in the 1970s and 1980s https://www.voanews.com/a/british-prime-minister-russia-poisoning-spy/4294683.html It's so unusual, that very few scientists outside of Russia have any real experience in dealing with it and no country outside of Russia is known to have developed the substance https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/13/europe/what-is-novichok-nerve-agent-intl/index.html In its statement, the European Union expressed shock at the offensive use of any military-grade nerve agent, of a type developed by Russia, for the first time on European soil in over 70 years. www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/03/19/statement-by-the-foreign-affairs-council-on-the-salisbury-attack/,

Disinfo: West uses Skripal case to harm Russia's reputation as a peacemaker

Direct connection between Russia’s undeniable progress in Syria and Skripal case, with the West using it to harm Russia’s reputation as a peacemaker.

Disproof

Many competing and contradictory stories promulgated by Russian state-controlled media, the only connecting thread being to confuse their audience and exclude any possibility of Russian involvement euvsdisinfo.eu/disinformation-cases/?text=sergei+skripal&disinfo_issue=&date=, . The nerve agent has been identified as Novichok (which means newcomer in Russian). It is known to be more powerful than VX and was developed in Russia in the 1970s and 1980s www.voanews.com/a/british-prime-minister-russia-poisoning-spy/4294683.html, . It's so unusual, that very few scientists outside of Russia have any real experience in dealing with it and no country outside of Russia is known to have developed the substance edition.cnn.com/2018/03/13/europe/what-is-novichok-nerve-agent-intl/index.html, , theconversation.com/what-we-know-about-novichok-the-newby-nerve-agents-linked-to-russia-93264, . In its statement, the European Union expressed shock at the offensive use of any military-grade nerve agent, of a type developed by Russia, for the first time on European soil in over 70 years. www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/03/19/statement-by-the-foreign-affairs-council-on-the-salisbury-attack/, Further debunking by Julia Davis: twitter.com/JuliaDavisNews/status/975472254107701249, Furthermore, Russia does not have the best record as a "peacemaker" as they support Assad and have bombed civilians in Syria www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/02/syria-eastern-ghouta-russia/554246/, and using those vents for disinformation purposes euvsdisinfo.eu/syria-attack-a-predictable-disinformation-strategy/, . Russia repeatedly cast veto of United Nations Security Council action on Syria https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-chemicalweapons/russia-casts-10th-u-n-veto-on-syria-action-blocking-inquiry-renewal-idUSKBN1DG31I even if the UN Security Council-mandated investigation concluded that both ISIL and the Syrian government have been responsible for chemical attacks in Syria https://news.un.org/en/story/2017/11/570192-both-isil-and-syrian-government-responsible-use-chemical-weapons-un-security.

Disinfo: Skripal was involved in the smuggling of chemical weapons

Skripal was involved in the smuggling of chemical weapons.

Disproof

Many competing and contradictory stories promulgated by Russian state-controlled media, the only connecting thread being to confuse their audience and exclude any possibility of Russian involvement euvsdisinfo.eu/disinformation-cases/?text=sergei+skripal&disinfo_issue=&date=, The nerve agent has been identified as Novichok (which means newcomer in Russian). It is known to be more powerful than VX and was developed in Russia in the 1970s and 1980s www.voanews.com/a/british-prime-minister-russia-poisoning-spy/4294683.html, It's so unusual, that very few scientists outside of Russia have any real experience in dealing with it and no country outside of Russia is known to have developed the substance edition.cnn.com/2018/03/13/europe/what-is-novichok-nerve-agent-intl/index.html, , theconversation.com/what-we-know-about-novichok-the-newby-nerve-agents-linked-to-russia-93264, In its statement, the European Union expressed shock at the offensive use of any military-grade nerve agent, of a type developed by Russia, for the first time on European soil in over 70 years. www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/03/19/statement-by-the-foreign-affairs-council-on-the-salisbury-attack/, Further debunking by Julia Davis: twitter.com/JuliaDavisNews/status/975472254107701249,