UK security chief says Putin responsible for Novichok attack

LONDON — Britain's security minister said Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin bears ultimate responsibility for the nerve agent attack targeting a former spy in England, also warning that the U.K. would counter Russian "malign activity" with both overt and covert measures.Ben Wallace said Putin and his government "controls, funds and directs" the military intelligence unit known as the GRU, which Britain believes used Novichok to try to kill ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal.Skripal