Russia expels 23 British diplomats as crisis over nerve toxin attack deepens

A Russian police car parks outside the British embassy in Moscow, Russia, March 17, 2018. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia expelled 23 British diplomats on Saturday in a carefully calibrated retaliatory move against London, which has accused the Kremlin of orchestrating a nerve toxin attack on a former Russian double agent and his daughter in southern England.

Escalating a crisis in relations, Russia said it was also shutting down the activities of the British Council, which fosters cultural links between the two countries, and Britain's consulate-general in St. Petersburg.