Simple English News Daily BONUS: The Salisbury Poisoning - A double Agent's Narrow Escape
May 3, 2025
Alistair Budge, host of the English Learning for Curious Minds podcast, discusses the shocking Salisbury poisoning incident, where ex-spy Sergey Skripal was attacked with Novichok. He explores the chilling details of the assassination attempt, the political fallout, and how the investigation implicated Russian state involvement. Listeners learn about the chaotic aftermath in Salisbury, the personal toll on innocent victims, and the diplomatic repercussions that followed. Budge's narrative reveals the intersection of espionage and international relations in a gripping tale.
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Skripal's Poisoning Incident
- Sergei Skripal and his daughter were found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury in 2018.
- Skripal was a former Russian double agent targeted in a poisoning attempt.
Novichok's Deadly Nature
- Novichok is a deadly nerve agent developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
- It causes muscle seizures and organ failure, often leading to death even in tiny amounts.
Russia's Likely Involvement
- The nerve agent Novichok used in Salisbury could only come from Russian labs.
- The British saw the attack as a likely state-sponsored murder orchestrated by Russia.