蜜芽传媒

A Foreign Office minister has described the attempted murder of a former Russian spy as "the most dastardly heinous act we've seen on European soil since 1945", and backed the Prime Minister's decision to expel Russian diplomats from the UK.

Theresa May had earlier told MP's that 23 Russian diplomats identified as "undeclared intelligence officers" have been given a week to leave and that high-level contact with Moscow would be suspended.

Sir Alan Duncan told Radio 4's World at One that "by expelling the largest number of diplomats for many decades, it shows to the world, and to Russia in particular, that we are taking firm steps" over this issue.

(Photo: The Prime Minister addressing the Commons about the nerve attack on Russian spy in UK
Credit: AFP/Getty images)