Current Affairs Critically ill man is former Russian spy

[tsubaki]

And now 5 months later another couple from the area are suspected of suffering from novichok poisoning.

How long does this nerve agent stay active? I can't recall seeing an answer to that.

Bad news to spoil the good news generated by the Russian world cup? Or is that the thoughts of a crank?

As bad as it is for the two people who have been poisoned, this sounds as if it is a huge breakthrough in the original investigation. From the reports so far the bloke involved has either been deliberately attacked or has come into close proximity to the agent some other way, which means he's probably either handled the container used or been in a house or car where it was stored.

The only alternative is that someone from Porton Down has either lost / mislaid / misused something, and the people who will tell you that will be along directly.

 

[The binman chronicles]

Think I'll give Wiltshire a wide birth for a couple of decades...

Tit. I will also give it a wide berth too...

 

[gonetomorrow]

England are now bound to play Russia.
The lads will be told to kneel down during the Russian anthem.

 

[peteblue]

England are now bound to play Russia.
The lads will be told to kneel down during the Russian anthem.

If this happens then watch the England team get ill to some mystery virus........

 

[Winter1610]

Well, I actually live in Salisbury and having looked around things today and heard what my eldest son says (his school is right in middle of town), it looks like the nerve agent was left/dumped in a bin. These two victims unfortunately were known for their substance abuse, were either looking for a drop or just nosing for junk, found the powder and bang

 

[Number_25]

Well, I actually live in Salisbury and having looked around things today and heard what my eldest son says (his school is right in middle of town), it looks like the nerve agent was left/dumped in a bin. These two victims unfortunately were known for their substance abuse, were either looking for a drop or just nosing for junk, found the powder and bang

Given the heat, I don't believe that any organophosphate wouldn't have decomposed by now.

Edit: Paper on the subject: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/cm00020a019

 

[Toast]

Well, I actually live in Salisbury and having looked around things today and heard what my eldest son says (his school is right in middle of town), it looks like the nerve agent was left/dumped in a bin. These two victims unfortunately were known for their substance abuse, were either looking for a drop or just nosing for junk, found the powder and bang

Their mates on the telly look like proper bag heads.
If they've found a bag of powder and given it a proper bugle, or injected it, and it's actually a deadly chemical.. Sympathy levels are low from myself.

 

[PhilM]

Given the heat, I don't believe that any organophosphate wouldn't have decomposed by now.

Edit: Paper on the subject: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/cm00020a019

While you're correct in many instances, the more 'specific' agents are specifically designed to be resistant to heat, compression et al.

 

[orchard]

While you're correct in many instances, the more 'specific' agents are specifically designed to be resistant to heat, compression et al.

Wasn't this compound specifically stored in two parts prior to use because the developers realised it broke down easily?

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

While you're correct in many instances, the more 'specific' agents are specifically designed to be resistant to heat, compression et al.

Pretty sure last time it was written it was stored as two compounds as it was easier safer and cheaper to store etc. Once the two compounds are mixed then becomes Novichok and easily degradable when exposed to the elements, and we had some of the hottest consistent days for years recently.

 

[PhilM]

Wasn't this compound specifically stored in two parts prior to use because the developers realised it broke down easily?

You're correct that they (the new agents) are often binary agents where, as you mention, they are separate innate compounds but when combined make an agent.

However, these original substances are designed to be highly resistant and then the different agents - Novichok is an umbrella term - have their own persistency.

A lot of the stuff written in the press is an amalgamation of a variety of snippets, speculation and inference, without focusing on the specific strain and it's details.

Some are quick acting and have low persistency as per their design, whereas other agents are specifically designed to have a lower-yield but to maintain over time.

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

A lot of the stuff written in the press is an amalgamation of a variety of snippets, speculation and inference, without focusing on the specific strain and it's details.

Vil Mirzayanov tells it different, he very much suggests its very degradable once the binary agents are mixed, its one reason why its binary, its easy to store.

Who is Vil -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vil_Mirzayanov

 

[PhilM]

Vil Mirzayanov tells it different, he very much suggests its very degradable once the binary agents are mixed, its one reason why its binary, its easy to store.

Who is Vil -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vil_Mirzayanov

Like I said, novichok is an umbrella term for a series of agents and each developed for their own specific needs. What he says is true for a number of strains...

... but not all. Add to that, there's a lot of scepticism regarding a fair few of his claims, however that's another matter entirely.

 

[peteblue]

Well, I actually live in Salisbury and having looked around things today and heard what my eldest son says (his school is right in middle of town), it looks like the nerve agent was left/dumped in a bin. These two victims unfortunately were known for their substance abuse, were either looking for a drop or just nosing for junk, found the powder and bang

Do bins not get emptied in Salisbury then.....

 

[Socrates]

So another incident 4 miles the OTHER side of Porton Down and Sajid Useless says the RUSSIANS owe us an explanation?

Does he realise how many people are laughing at him right now?