Updated 19:30
The British Prime Minister says the two men believed to be responsible for the Salisbury nerve agent attack are Russian military intelligence officers.
The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed this morning that two Russian nationals had been charged, naming the suspects believed to behind the Salisbury attack as Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov.
The pair are to be charged with conspiracy to murder Sergei Skripal; the attempted murder of Sergei Skripal, Yulia Skripal and Nick Bailey (the policeman who fell ill after responding to the Salisbury incident); use and possession of the Novichok nerve agent; and causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Yulia Skripal and Nick Bailey.
This afternoon, the UK foreign office summoned the head of the Russian embassy to answer questions on the attack.
Meanwhile, the UK has requested a meeting of the UN Security Council tomorrow to discuss the allegations.
Image: Met Police
Sue Hemming, CPS Director of Legal Services, said: "We will not be applying to Russia for the extradition of these men as the Russian constitution does not permit extradition of its own nationals.
"Russia has made this clear following requests for extradition in other cases. Should this position change then an extradition request would be made."
She added: "We have, however, obtained a European Arrest Warrant which means that if either man travels to a country where an EAW is valid, they will be arrested and face extradition on these charges for which there is no statute of limitations."
Met Police added the two men were likely using aliases and that "these are not their real names".
The UK said it will update the UN Security Council on their investigation tomorrow.
The UK has called for a #UNSC meeting tomorrow, Thursday, to update the Council on the Salisbury investigation. pic.twitter.com/exK4kEX0uD
— UK at the UN 🇬🇧 (@UKUN_NewYork) September 5, 2018
"Obfuscation and lies"
Image of both suspects at Salisbury train station. Image: Met Police
Speaking after this morning's announcements, Theresa May confirmed that the two men are believed to members of the Russian Military Intelligence Service (GRU).
She told MPs: "We repeatedly asked Russia to account for what happened in Salisbury in March, and they have replied with obfuscation and lies.
"Their attempts to hide the truth by pushing out a deluge of information simply reinforces their culpability."
Russian officials, meanwhile, insisted the names of the suspects meant nothing to them.
In a statement quoted by the TASS news agency, a Russian foreign ministry spokesperson said: "Some links with Russia have been made. The names and photographs published in the media say nothing to us.
"Once again we are calling upon the British side to drop public charges and information manipulations and to start practical interaction between law enforcement agencies. London has numerous requests from the Russian side."
Salisbury attack
Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok in March.
Although both were critically ill in the wake of the attack, they have since been discharged from hospital.
Russia has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attack.
It was confirmed yesterday that the nerve agent that killed British woman Dawn Sturgess in July was the same used against the Skripals.
It emerged in the weeks after her death that her partner Charlie Rowley found the nerve agent in a branded and sealed bottle that he believed contained perfume.
The two investigations have now been formally linked in the wake of the latest developments.
Suspects
According to police, the two suspects arrive at Gatwick Airport on Friday, 2nd March after flying from Moscow.
They are said to have stayed in a hotel in east London on both the Friday and Saturday night.
The following day, they are said to have left London for Salisbury on what's believed to have been a 'reconnaissance' mission.
They again travelled to Salisbury on Sunday, with police saying CCTV showed them near Mr Skripal's house - where they are believed to have contaminated the front door with Novichok.
They returned to London, before travelling to Heathrow Airport and catching a flight to Moscow at around 10:30pm on the Sunday night.
Police also released images of the counterfeit perfume bottle believed to have held the Novichok.
They stressed it is "not a genuine Nina Ricci perfume bottle, box or nozzle", saying there is absolutely no risk to the public from any genuine perfume products.
