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The nerve agent which poisoned a former Russia spy was planted in his daughter's suitcase before she left Moscow, it was sensationally claimed last night.

Intelligence agencies now believe it the most plausible explanation for the attack on Sergei Skripal, 66, the Telegraph reports.

The double agent's daughter Yulia, 33, came to visit the week before the pair were found slumped on a bench in Salisbury.

According to the Telegraph, senior sources are "convinced" the Novichok nerve agent was placed in her luggage via clothing, cosmetics or a gift and was opened in Britain.

It makes the job of pinpointing who was behind the attack even more difficult, as the hit squad would not even had had to enter the country.

Sergei and Yulia remain critically ill in hospital.

It comes after the nerve agent alert spread to a military base last night – sparking fears contam­ination could be worse than thought.

(Image: AFP) (Image: Facebook) (Image: AFP)

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Emergency crews in chemical protection suits today sealed off a road in Larkhill, Wilts, and removed a grey family saloon from outside houses belonging to senior army officers.

Sources said it may have been parked close to Sergei Skripal ’s BMW in a Sainsbury’s car park on the day of the poisoning.

Garrison town Larkhill is the country’s principal training establishment for artillery warfare.

Sources said the car removed from there was owned by a civilian not a serving soldier.

(Image: Daily Mirror) (Image: Daily Mirror)

One resident said: “My best guess is it was parked near the spy’s car.

“Perhaps the owners called and said their car was close. Or they are collecting all the cars that were in the area in case they are contaminated. We just don’t know.” In another dramatic development, the home of a policeman poisoned by the nerve agent was sealed off.

Det Sgt Nick Bailey is recovering in hospital after receiving secondary contamination while investigating.

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It is feared the 38-year-old may have carried traces of the Novichok back to his car and house.

Soldiers and police sealed off the cul-de-sac in Alderholt, Hants, where he lives with wife Sarah, 37, and two young children.

There are now fears they ,too, may have been exposed.

Investigators in hazmat suits used large army trucks to remove the family’s two cars.

A neighbour said: “We hope it’s just a precaution but we don’t know if the wife has been using the car.

(Image: AFP)

“The family were certainly staying at the address initially but don’t appear to be there anymore.”

It is believed Det Sgt Bailey examined the maroon BMW the Russian drove hours before he collapsed.

He initially had a hospital check-up but was discharged only to fall ill later.

He was in a critical condition but is now said to be stable and met PM Theresa May on her visit yesterday.