Did Israel's Mossad kill Russian who invented nerve agent?

Intelligence agency allegedly took action to prevent sale of deadly chemical to Syria

Army personnel removing the bench in the English town of Salisbury where former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter were found earlier this month. Britain claims the Novichok-5 nerve agent - said to have been developed by the late Russian gen
Army personnel removing the bench in the English town of Salisbury where former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter were found earlier this month. Britain claims the Novichok-5 nerve agent - said to have been developed by the late Russian general Anatoly Kuntsevich - was used on the Skripals. PHOTO:EPA-EFE
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Experts believe a Russian general by the name of Anatoly Kuntsevich invented the nerve agent that Russia used to poison former spy Sergei Skripal in the United Kingdom, triggering an international crisis.

Israeli reports claim that the country's intelligence agency Mossad killed General Kuntsevich years ago to prevent the sale of his deadly agent to Israel's enemy Syria.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 31, 2018, with the headline Did Israel's Mossad kill Russian who invented nerve agent?. Subscribe