snow on its that cool and turn to snow on its leading edge. elsewhere, cloud and stjohn, noticeably mild, and italy where we get the sunshine. mad for now. was poisoned by a nerve agent — a police officer who was first on the scene is also seriously ill. sergei skripal — seen here last week — and his daughter were specifically targeted say detectives. he and his daughter remain critically ill in hospital. this is been treated as a a major incident involving attempted murder by administration of a nerve agent. as police widened the cordon in salisbury — detectives urged anyone in the area on sunday to come forward to help with their inquiry. the revelations threaten to damage further britain's strained relations with moscow. also on the programme tonight. an 18—year—old iraqi asylum seeker goes on trial accused of planting a bomb on the tube at london's parsons green. two lorry drivers are facing jail tonight after 8 people died in a motorway pile up on the mi last summer. saudi arabia's crown prince arrives

in downing street for talks with theresa may as she expresses deep concerns about the crisis in yemen. and scott meenagh gets ready for the winter paralympics on friday with britain hoping for a record medal haul. coming up on sportsday on bbc news can starman harry kane help spurs make it into the champions league last eight, as they hostjuventus at wembley? good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. the home secretary amber rudd has revealed today that more is known about the substance used in the suspected poisoning of a former russian spy and his daughter. sergei and yulia skripal were found

unconscious in salisbury on sunday afternoon and remain critically ill. detectives say they believe they we re detectives say they believe they were targeted as they are treating the incident at attempted murder. the police officer who was first on the scene on sunday afternoon is in a serious condition in hospital. the government's chiefed medical officer say it posed a low risk to the general public and the hazard has been contained. let us speak to daniel sandford at scotland yard. the police revealed that few moments ago, tell us what they said. that is right. just about half an hour ago, assista nt right. just about half an hour ago, assistant commissioner mark rowley, the most senior counter—terrorism policing officer in britain came down to give the latest on this investigation and it moved this investigation and it moved this investigation into a new gear, really, because until now, there had been a suspicion about how it was that these people had become so ill, so that these people had become so ill, so quickly, how it was that sergei skripal and his daughter yulia had developed such serious symptoms and he of course being a former russian

military intelligence officer accused by the russians of selling secrets to britain. well, mark roly told us they have now identified the cause of those very very serious illnesses the two people are suffering, and it was a nerve agents, a nerve agent that government scientists have identified, which they are not telling us are specifically what it was, for investigative reasons but it was a nerve agent that made them ill and this is an attempted murder investigation. as well as that, we have this police officer that treated them very early on at the scene on the day also very seriously ill in hospital. theres have widened the cordon? this area is a popular green space, surrounded by water, and its popular on sundays, people come here

shopping. now the people of salisbury have had to put up with this major investigation and tonight, the news that a nerve agents, a chemical designed to target the nervous system has been used among them. as we all now know, it has sparked a huge investigation. sergei skripal was a man with a shadowy past. relatives said he feared it would catch up with him but he was using his own name, living a normal life, popping into a corner shop last month for milk and bacon. tonight, he and his daughter are gravely ill and now, the police have revealed why. in summary, this is being treated as a major incident involved attempting murder by the administration of the a nerve agent. as you know, these two people remain critically ill in hospital. sadly, in addition, a police officer who was one of the first to attend the

scene and respond to the incident is now also in a serious condition in hospital. counter—terrorism officers are being advised by public health agency, they say there is no obvious outstanding risk. ment and, they say there is no obvious outstanding risk.ment and, they are trying to work out what the gyps we re trying to work out what the gyps were doing in salisbury after arriving on sunday. police are investigating reports that sergei skripal had lunch with a woman at this italian restaurant. they were behaving strangely, she had dark hair, resembled his daughter yulia in this picture. but police have already seized this cctv footage from just before lipm. a man and a blonde haired woman heading to the area where the family were taken ill ona park area where the family were taken ill on a park bench. an eyewitness who saw that has told us. the girl was pretty, blonde hair, i couldn't see herface very pretty, blonde hair, i couldn't see her face very well because she was

leaping on him. blonde hair, dark hair, detectives will need to sort through a mass of eyewitness reports and cctv, to establish the truth. the government was briefed on the inquiry today. we need to keep a cool head and make sure that we collect all the evidence we can, and we need to make sure that we respond not to rumour but to all the evidence that they collect. and then, we will need to decide what action to take. but life in central salisbury is now dominated by the response to the suspected poisoning. at lunchtime this, after a woman appeared to have been taken ill at the offices next to the restaurant. police would not discuss why there was such a huge emergency response. was such a huge emergency response. but with two lives in jeopardy at the local hospital, it is clear why the local hospital, it is clear why the risk has to be taken seriously. this is a significant moment. nerve

agents are danger to manufacture, they are complex to manufacture. this is not something that for insta nce this is not something that for instance a criminal would use, oner even an organised crime gang would ewe. nerve agents are tiply produced by countries and states in a relatively small number, you can see why this narrows the focus of the inquiry. government officials are still being cautious to not say that it is definitely russia. you can see why they don't want to get ahead of the fact, that he know which nerve agent it was, that might help them narrow it down further but they don't want to get ahead of what the fa cts don't want to get ahead of what the facts a re don't want to get ahead of what the facts are showing them, because when it does come to saying who they think is behind it, they want to be sure they have a significant body of evidence and proof, because especially now with the police officer also having been affected by this, the pressure will be on to ta ke this, the pressure will be on to take significant action, but

certainly, this increases the likelihood, it was a state and russia continues to be the most likely culprit. thank you. an 18—year—old asylum seeker from iraq has gone on trial accused of planting a bomb on a london underground train at parson's green in southwest london last september. the jury has been told that the device was designed to cause ‘maximum harm and carnage'. 30 people were injured were the bomb partially exploded.. ahmed hassan denies attempted murder and causing an explosion likely to endanger life. our home affairs correspondent june kelly is at the old bailey. especially now with the police officer also having been affected by this, the pressure will be on to ta ke this, the pressure will be on to take significant action, but certainly, this increases the likelihood, it was a state and russia continues to be the most likely culprit. thank you. ahmed hassan arrived three years ago, ona ahmed hassan arrived three years ago, on a lorry, and hen he came in, he told officials here, that in his native iraq he had been forced to train with isis fighters but he was opposed to isis. isis: he was living with foster parents here at the time of his arrest. sirens. an autumn morning last year. and today the old bailey heard how an improvised explosive device partially detonated

on an underground train just as it pulled into parsons green station. the partial explosion created a large fireball in a carriage carrying around 93 passengers. some were caught by the flames and sustained significant burns. the teenager on trial for the attack was brought to court to face charges of attempted murder and causing an explosion likely to endanger life. 18—year—old ahmed hassan, an asylum seeker from iraq, is pleading not guilty. when he arrived in the uk he told immigration officials that he had been forcibly taken by the islamic state group and trained to kill by them. he said he had got away from is and was in fear of them. today the court heard that hassan left his device in a bucket on the train. it was said to be loaded with shrapnel to cause maximum harm and damage. fighters and he had used the volatile explosive tatp. the prosecutor alison morgan

said of the passengers, many ran in fear and panic. they were fortunate. have the device fully detonated, it is inevitable that serious injury and significant damage would have been caused within the carriage. those in close oximetry to the device may well have been killed. ahmed hassan had fitted the device with a timer. he got off at the station before. he was arrested 2a hours later. june kelly, bbc news, at the old bailey. the president of the european council, donald tusk, has told theresa may that there can be no pick and mix approach to brexit. with just over a year to go until the uk leaves the eu, mr tusk said mrs may wanted to "demonstrate at any price that brexit could be a success", but that was not the eu's objective. meanwhile, the chancellor phillip hammond said any deal that didn't include britain's service sector — which includes banks — would not be a fair deal. our political editor laura kuenssberg reports. a different mansion house. this

time, ina a different mansion house. this time, in a luxembourg garden. but this strife ahead, even this the most tranquil surroundings. the european union, revealed its response to theresa may's plans for brexit. it will make it more complicated and costly tha n it will make it more complicated and costly than today, for all of us. this is the essence of brexit. a pick and mix approach for a non—member state is out of the question. we are not going to sacrifice these principles. it is simply not in our interest. unfortunately and we have to know, there will be be no winnerses after the brexit. both sides will be losing. the eu has been united with that gloomy message but it was only on friday the prime minister said she wanted an ambitious trade partnership where

the bloc but accepted compromises would be made. so how do the two sides compare? the eu guidelines of a possible deal say there will be negative economic consequences. and while the prime minister said all agreements mean picking and choosing, the eu insists the uk can't cherry pick the bits of the eu it likes. but the unions' accepted the goal of a trade deal where there are no tariff, but controversially, only if the eu keeps access to fish british waters. crucially there is space to budge. the document says if the uk positions were to evolves, the uk positions were to evolves, the union will be prepared to reconsider its off and there is the chance of brokering is a limited deal over services, including the giant money machine of the city of london. where the chancellor shrugged off the brussels position. they are very skilled and disciplined in the way they carry

out negotiation. it doesn't surprise me remotely that what they have set out this morning is a very tough position. but labour claims the government's approach is all over the place. we can change the tone of xhur respect we can get the deal that will protect the economy and jobs. there are big gaps between what the government wants and what the eu is willing to give. and it is clear, it is easierfor willing to give. and it is clear, it is easier for brussels not westminster to call the shots, but in this long tortured process, today is not a moment of political panic, it is clear from both sides and from these guidelines, there is a real conversation to be had. laura kuenssberg. bbc news, westminster. our economic editor is here, so the uk's financial service proving to be a sticking point, is there any sign ofa a sticking point, is there any sign of a way out of it? i think sophie as with all negotiation, the two

sides tend to start a long way apart and then they tend to come towards some form of agreement, we must not forget both sides say they wanted a deal. i think there was a small window opened by donald tusk, i say no more than that. he said the eu was willing to look at trade in services and that could include financial service, so important to the uk economy, we employ two million people in financial services across the uk, but also philip hammond made the point very important to the european union, their businesses, their government use the deep capital pools in london to fund their operation, philip hammond said it is no time for a brick wall between britain and the eu on financial services, but he did admitand eu on financial services, but he did admit and donald tusk would agree with him here there will be cost, britain's relationship with the european union will not be as good on financial services as it is now. the time is nearly 6:15pm.

our top story this evening: police confirm the former russian spy and his daughter were poisoned by a nerve agent. a police officer who was first on the scene is also seriously ill. on friday, britain's winter paralympians set their sights on a record—breaking games on the slopes of south korea. coming up on sportsday on bbc news: the wales head coach warren gatland has made ten changes to his side for this weekend's six nations meeting with italy. taulupe faletau returns at no.8 to captain the side. the head of world cycling's governing body, the uci, is calling for an investigation into team sky following a damning report by mps this week. david lappartient has told the bbc that the findings of the inquiry into doping in sport were "u na cce pta ble" and "could affect the global credibility" cycling. the report accused team sky and sir bradley wiggins of having "crossed

an ethical line" by using drugs allowed under anti—doping rules to enhance performance, instead of just for medical purposes. from switzerland, here's our sports editor dan roan. they may be the dominant force in cycling but the pressure is on team sky. today, they tried to focus on their latest race in italy, but it's the way they've won in the past that's under scrutiny. team sky have admitted mistakes following this week's damning report by a parliamentary committee, but today the most powerful figure in the sport told me that wasn't good enough. mistake is something you've done with the intention to be wrong. the report — it's a little bit different. it seems it was a bit organised, so maybe not a mistake but a fault, which is different, because that could affect the credibility globally of our sport, and that's why i'm

concerned about this. mps alleged sir bradley wiggins used asthma drugs to boost performance and notjust the medical need when he rode for team sky. a claim that both they and he'd deny, but lappartient seems unconvinced. do you feel an ethical line was crossed, as the mps suggest? it's what in the report and what i read. when you can see that substances were used, not for health problems but to increase your performances, then yes, that's something unacceptable for me and the philosophy we have. so if it's not breaking the rules, can it be cheating? if you are using, you know, substances to increase your performances, i think this is exactly what is cheating. despite the controversy, sir dave brailsford remains in charge of team sky, but lappartient told me he now wants

the world federation's anti—doping division to launch their own inquiry. i want them to investigate and to see if there is some violation of anti—doping rules. britain's top rider chris froome continues to compete, despite an adverse drugs test last year, and the team sky star could defend his title in the summer's tour de france with the case still unresolved. what would the effect of that be? that would be a disaster for the image of cycling. even if... on a legal point of view he has a right to ride, but for the image of our sport, that could be a disaster. the uci president now wants chris froome to withdraw from racing either until he clears his name or is banned. the road to reputational recovery could be a long one. dan roan, bbc news. two lorry drivers are facing jail tonight after eight people were killed when their minibus was crushed in a pile—up on the mi in august last year. they'd been on their way to disneyland.

one of the lorry drivers, who was twice the drink—drive limit, was found guilty of dangerous driving. this afternoon the other, david wagstaff, was cleared of that charge but did admit eight charges of careless driving. helena lee is at reading crown court. it emerged after the trial today that one of the lorry drivers, rysza rd that one of the lorry drivers, ryszard masierak, had had his professional driving licence revoked before the crash, so he shouldn't have been driving the lorry at. the judge in this case praised the families who lost loved ones in the collision for their constant dignity in what he said has been a devastating case. the sheer force of the impact of the crash is clear to see. a crash that was entirely avoidable, the trial heard, with the most catastrophic and tragic of consequences. ryszard masierak stopped his lorry in the slow lane of the mi for 12 minutes. the jury was shown this dash—cam footage from another lorry driver on the road before the collision.

he passed masiera k‘s lorry, here on the left, stationary in the slow lane. the court heard masierak was twice over the legal limit and he'd been driving erratically in the hours before. soon after, cyriacjoseph, the minibus driver, tried to go round masiera k‘s lorry. he missed his chance, stopped behind it and put his hazards on. moments later, david wagstaff‘s lorry ploughed into the back of the minibus. during the trial, the court heard how wagstaff had been on a hands—free call for nearly an hour at the time of the crash, and his lorry on cruise control. cyriac joseph and seven of his passengers died in the crash. he'd been taking them to london, where they were going on to disneyland in paris. four others in the minibus were seriously injured. six months on from the crash, and mrjoseph's family feel his loss deeply. i miss him a lot. i mean, my life has completely changed,

like completely changed so much. yeah, it's hard, and i'm trying to get through it, like we all are. today, outside court, tributes were paid to those who helped at the scene. all of the emergency services, together with staff and highways england and members of the public, worked extremely hard to bring comfort to those involved in exceptionally difficult circumstances. everyone who attended will not forget the scene they faced that day. for the families, the end of this trial may bring some closure, after one of the worst motorway crashes in recent years. helena lee, bbc news, reading crown court. the leader and deputy leader of the far—right group, britain first, have been found guilty of religiously aggravated harassment. paul golding and jayda fransen were arrested after targeting muslims they believed were part of a gang—rape trial

taking place last may. the court heard that the pair posted offensive leaflets through the doors of muslims living in kent and filmed themselves confronting people in public. almost 1000 are to go at the high street fashion chain new look. the retailer says it's planning to close 60 stores and reduce rent on 400 shops as part of rescue plans. the company says the cuts are tough but necessary to restore profitability. saudi arabia's crown prince, mohammed bin salman, has held talks with the prime minister at the start of a three—day visit to the uk. it comes amid protests about saudi's role in the war in yemen. our security correspondent frank gardner is at downing street. something of a balancing act, this visit, for the prime minister? yes, it is. just beyond the gates of downing street there is a very small but very noisy protest going on. it is just but very noisy protest going on. it

isjust coming to but very noisy protest going on. it is just coming to an end now, but very noisy protest going on. it isjust coming to an end now, it but very noisy protest going on. it is just coming to an end now, it has been heavily policed and they have been chanting "stop bombing yedlin." i don't think it will have rattled the man who came out a few minutes ago from number ten downing st. he and a large delegation of saudi ministers have been ensconced inside downing street, discussing how to deepen the relationship, the links between britain and saudi arabia. these links go back 100 years. it is very heavily weighted towards defence. that is controversial, because british weapons are involved in the war in yemen and britain is pushing to stop that and that has been coming up in the talks over and above the trade guilds both countries want to conclude. frank gardner, thank you. the winter paralympics get underway in south korea on friday and paralympics gb are fielding 17 athletes — their biggest team since 2006. they won six medals at the last winter games in sochi four years ago. now they're looking to beat that record. kate grey reports from pyeongchang. 17 athletes competing over

nine days of action. never has paralympics gb been represented in so many sports at a winter games. among them, the trusted hands of aileen neilson, leading the curling team. we know each other inside out. we've worked together for a few years now and travelled all over the world, so we certainly know each other and can hopefully get the best out of each other. bronze medallist last time round, they'll be hoping for more in south korea. but this is a team that mixes experience with youthful exuberance. in the alpine skiing, 19—year—old menna fitzpatrick, who only has 5% vision, is guided byjen kehoe. recently crowned world cup champions, they've built a solid partnership. the longer you work with somebody, the more you know them and the more you can second—guess and interpret before... and finish each other's sentences. finish each other‘s sentences, what you're going to say! and react quickly when something does go wrong or you need to change the plan. joining them on the slopes will be

britain's first—ever paralympics snowboarders, but far from being there just for the ride, they too are in with a chance of medals. got silver at the world champs, i've had a few medals in the world cups, you know. been invited to some pretty big, high profile events, as well, like the x—games. it's been incredible. just starting this journey from having never snowboarded to five years later i'm now in the team go into the paralympics. it's been amazing. and for the first time in 20 years, they'll be a british nordic skier. scott meenagh will go in the cross country and biathlon. having narrowly missed out on competing as a rower in rio, he's finally earned the chance to test himself on the paralympic stage. you can'tjust assume you're going to go in and beat the best in the world, because there're incredible, and we are new to this sport, so we are still learning valuable lessons. we're learning from those guys, but we're starting to, as i say, we starting to tap on the shoulders of the big boys, paint targets on people's backs and, yeah, watch this space!

here in south korea, paralympics gb will be hoping to match the success of their olympic counterparts, achieving a record—breaking medal haul. kate grey, bbc news, pyeongchang. time for a look at the weather... here's stav da naos. hello and thank you. what a lovely day it turned out to be for many places, some places escaping showers altogether so quite a lot of sunshine and feeling springlike. this evening temperatures will fall away under clear skies, many will still see some showers, some heavy in western scotland, and some snow over the high ground first thing this evening and tonight. to the south, this speech of running into wales and south—west england will spread northwards on edwards. it will bring a lot of rain but there could be some snow, sickly over high ground. ice could be a problem in parts of scotland, so watch out for that. the other hazard will be

further south in wales, parts of the midlands into northern england, this area of rain, sleet and snow. over the hills, 1—4 centimetres of settling snow. maybe to lower levels, a little wet snow as well. but not as severe as what we had last week, just something to bear in mind as it could cause some disruption in the morning commute. further south and east, largely rain. the whole thing will be slowly moving eastwards, into the north sea. by the late morning, it has cleared away and skies brightening up cleared away and skies brightening up nicely. lots of sunshine in the afternoon. showers in some western areas, wintry over higher ground, typically in scotland. 7—10d, a degree or so lower than this afternoon. a little bit fresher. on friday, an area of low pressure in scotla nd friday, an area of low pressure in scotland bringing some rain, sleet and hill snow. to the far south, an area of low pressure will be arriving to bring outbreaks of rain and strengthening winds. elsewhere, and strengthening winds. elsewhere, a lovely day, lots of sunshine.

temperatures fairly mild in the south, looks like it is set to turn milder as we had through the weekend for some of us. thank you. a reminder of our main story... police confirm the former russian spy and his daughter were poisoned by a nerve agent. a police officer who was first on the scene is also seriously ill. police have widened the cordon in salisbury and are urging anyone who was in the area on sunday afternoon to come forward to help with the investigation. that is it from us, from bbc one it is time for the news from bbc one it is time for the news from the bbc teams where you are. this is bbc news — our latest headlines. police have revealed that a former russian spy and his daughter were poisoned by a nerve agent, and a police officer who was first on the scene in salisbury, is also seriously ill. this is being treated as a major incident involving the attempted murder by an administration using a

nerve agent. a teenager goes on trial accused of planting a bomb on a london underground train during rush hour last september. 30 people were hurt in the incident at parsons green station. the chancellor urges the eu to include financial markets in any future trade deal after brexit — but the president of the european council, donald tusk, says the uk cannot have a ‘pick and mix approach' to negotiations. a second lorry driver, david wagstaff, has been cleared of causing death by dangerous driving following a trial and the saudi crown prince meets the queen starting a 3—day visit —— amid protests at his country's record —— on human rights. in a moment it will be time for sportsday, but first a look