What the papers say - March 6
Fears a former Russian double agent given refuge in Britain was "poisoned" in Salisbury lead most papers on Tuesday.
Sergei Skripal, 66, was convicted in 2006 of passing state secrets to MI6 before coming to the UK as part of a spy swap.
Police said officers were as yet "unable to ascertain" whether Skripal and a woman, 33, who were found unconscious on a bench near a shopping centre on Sunday, had been victims of a crime.
However, suspicions were growing that the incident was an attempted "hit" backed by the Kremlin, according to The Sun.
Tomorrow's front page: A former Russian double agent was fighting for his life last night after being found poisoned in a shopping centre pic.twitter.com/MNDPd9D6MB
-- The Sun (@TheSun) March 5, 2018
Meanwhile, the Daily Mail says Skripal had told agents "his life was in danger".
MAIL: Spy swap Russian 'poisoned' in Britain #tomorrowspaperstodaypic.twitter.com/4xyErHVZ8H
-- Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) March 5, 2018
The i says the pensioner was "one of Britain's most important double agents".
I: Renegade Russian spy 'poisoned' on UK street #tomorrowspaperstodaypic.twitter.com/EpWzHCNkNe
-- Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) March 5, 2018
A neighbour of Skripal told The Guardian that he had been living quietly in the area for more than seven years.
The Guardian front page, Tuesday 6 March 2018: 'Unknown substance' leaves former Russianspy critically ill in UK pic.twitter.com/npoqBqktuf
-- The Guardian (@guardian) March 5, 2018
The Independent questions if Skripal was the victim of an attempted assassination similar to the killing of Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006.
Tomorrow's @independent front page #tomorrowspaperstoday To subscribe to the Daily Edition: https://t.co/XF8VnDpHYFpic.twitter.com/NFOPptwHkf
-- The Independent (@Independent) March 5, 2018
Georgia Pridham, 25, who saw the pair apparently unwell, told the Daily Telegraph: "He was quite smartly dressed. He had his palms up to the sky as if he was shrugging and was staring at the building in front of him. He had a woman sat next to him on the bench who was slumped on his shoulder."
TELEGRAPH: Russian spy fights for life after 'poisoning ' #tomorrowspaperstodaypic.twitter.com/ztT7NRoiBn
-- Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) March 5, 2018
Police are keeping an "open mind" over what caused the pair to fall ill, the Daily Mirror reports, alongside a striking image of an officer in a biohazard suit at the scene.
Tomorrow's front page: TV Bill's heartache#tomorrowspaperstodayhttps://t.co/mMQtHF2IOipic.twitter.com/cEF6hb4vMy
-- Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) March 5, 2018
Scientists were deployed to decontaminate the area and the hospital where they are being treated, the Metro reports.
Tuesday's front page:RUSSIAN SPY ISPOISONED IN UKSHOPPING MALL#tomorrowspaperstoday#bbcpapers#skypaperspic.twitter.com/CLdBaz8Sp9
-- Metro Newspaper UK (@MetroUKNews) March 5, 2018
The Times reports neither had visible injuries and officers were working to identify the substance they had been exposed to.
Tomorrow's front page: Russian spy critically ill after substance poisoning #tomorrowspapertodaypic.twitter.com/NyUFpSH3lx
-- The Times of London (@thetimes) March 5, 2018
The Financial Times also carries the story on its front page, alongside a lead report that the US is offering Britain a worse deal on aviation after Brexit than it currently has as part of the EU, which would hit British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
Just published: front page of the Financial Times, London edition, Tuesday 6 Marchhttps://t.co/vtGq6Vs3zwpic.twitter.com/BvfQs0rnpq
-- Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) March 5, 2018
The Daily Express features Skripal on its front page, but leads with former BBC Breakfast host Bill Turnbull's revelation that he has prostate cancer.
EXPRESS: TV's Bill: My Cancer Battle #tomorrowspaperstodaypic.twitter.com/hn1DsnzwAW
-- Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) March 5, 2018