(CNN) A Russian flag has been spotted on Salisbury Cathedral in England, in an apparent stunt making light of the poisoning of former KGB agent Sergei Skripal in the city last year.

The flag was noticed scaffolding surrounding part of the cathedral on Sunday morning before being taken down by workers, but several residents and the local member of parliament took to social media to criticize the prank.

Former Russian spy Skripal and his daughter Yulia became seriously ill in the city after being poisoned in a Novichok attack last March, and 44-year-old woman Dawn Sturgess died in July after being exposed to the perfume bottle in which the poison was carried.

@BBCBreaking @journalupdate @SpireFM How dare some stupid fool disrespect our city. After everything this city has got through it does not need this. #salisbury #youwontbringusdown pic.twitter.com/y30vESR7gA — Lee Martin (@lmjm12) February 17, 2019

Months later, Salisbury Cathedral came to international attention when the two Russian agents accused of carrying out the attack claimed they were merely in the UK as tourists, hoping to admire its 123-meter spire.

"Thankfully it has been removed now -- what a stupid stunt -- mocking the serious events sadly experienced in Salisbury last year," the city's MP wrote on Twitter.

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