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Skripals suspects Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov claim they visited Salisbury for its ‘famous cathedral’

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The two suspects in the Skripals poisoning case have said they visited Salisbury because friends said it was "a wonderful town with a famous cathedral".

Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov told state-funded news channel RT their trip to the historic town had been short-lived "because it was covered in snow". 

"Our friends have been suggesting for a long time that we visit this wonderful town… there's the famous Salisbury cathedral, famous not only in Europe but the whole world. It's famous for its 123-metre spire, it's famous for its clock, the one of the first ever created in the world that is still working," Petrov said.

“Of course, we went there to see Stonehenge, Old Sarum, but we couldn’t do it because there was muddy slush everywhere. The town was covered by this slush. We got wet, took the nearest train and came back [to London]," he added. 

“We spent no more than an hour in Salisbury, mainly because of the lags between trains,” Boshirov said.“Maybe we did [approach] Skripal’s house, but we don’t know where is it located.”

The pair also claimed they were not carrying the fake Nina Ricci perfume bottle now linked with the attack, saying customs officials "would have questions as to why men have women's perfume in their luggage". 

City minister and Salisbury MP John Glen said: "Delighted that Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Borishov were able to see the world-class attractions that Salisbury has to offer. But very strange to come all this way for just two days while carrying Novichok in their luggage."