WH: Nerve Agent Attack in England 'Reckless, Irresponsible'

The White House is labeling the recent chemical weapon attack on a former Russian spy living in England as "reckless and irresponsible," although it would not comment on claims the Russian government is behind the incident.

"We've been monitoring the incident closely," White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Monday. "We take it very seriously. The use of a highly lethal nerve agent is an outrage. The attack was reckless and irresponsible. We extend our sympathy to the families and support to the U.K. government. We stand by our closest ally and the special relationship that we have."

Last week, Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found slumped over in Salisbury, England, where he lives. Skripal was a former Russian national who was convicted of spying for the British government in 2006. He was later sent to England in a high-profile spy swap in 2010.

Earlier Monday, British Prime Minister Theresa May said her government has concluded it is "highly likely" the Russian government was responsible for poisoning Skripal and his daughter with what has been concluded to be a military grade nerve agent.

Sanders would not say whether the White House agrees with May's assessment Russia is likely behind the attack.

"Right now we are standing with our U.K. allies. They're still working through some of the details of that," Sanders said. "We're going to continue to work with the U.K. We certainly stand with them throughout this process."

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