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Police fear Wiltshire pair have been exposed to nerve agent Police fear Wiltshire pair have been exposed to nerve agent
(35 minutes later)
Counter-terrorism police have joined the investigation into two people in a critical condition in Wiltshire, amid fears that they may have been exposed to a nerve agent. Counter-terrorism police have joined the investigation into what happened to two people in Wiltshire who are in a critical condition, amid fears that they may have been exposed to a nerve agent.
The pair were found unconscious at a property in Amesbury and were initially believed to have overdosed, but their symptoms raised alarm among medics and Wiltshire police, which led them to suspect a possible nerve agent. Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley were found unconscious at a property in Amesbury and were initially believed to have overdosed on drugs, but their symptoms raised alarm among medics and Wiltshire police, which led them to suspect a possible nerve agent.
The man and woman, both in their 40s, were in a critical condition at Salisbury district hospital, Wiltshire police said on Wednesday. The couple, both in their 40s, were in a critical condition at Salisbury district hospital, Wiltshire police said on Wednesday.
Tests were being carried out on the substance at the nearby Porton Down government defence laboratory. Whitehall sources said that it was too early to tell whether the substance was related to illegal drugs or “something more sinister”.Tests were being carried out on the substance at the nearby Porton Down government defence laboratory. Whitehall sources said that it was too early to tell whether the substance was related to illegal drugs or “something more sinister”.
The duo are understood to be British citizens unlikely to have been the victims of a targeted attack. The couple are understood to be British citizens who are unlikely to have been the victims of a targeted attack.
“This is an incident which understandably is being treated with the utmost seriousness,” Theresa May’s spokesman said. Government security officials held a meeting of the Cobra committee in the Cabinet Office on Wednesday morning to discuss events in Amesbury and another meeting will take place later.“This is an incident which understandably is being treated with the utmost seriousness,” Theresa May’s spokesman said. Government security officials held a meeting of the Cobra committee in the Cabinet Office on Wednesday morning to discuss events in Amesbury and another meeting will take place later.
Counter-terrorism officers also joined the investigation. A spokesperson for Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command said: “As you would expect, given the recent events in Salisbury, officers from the counter-terrorism network are working jointly with colleagues from Wiltshire police regarding the incident in Amesbury. As Wiltshire police have stated, they are keeping an open mind as to the circumstances surrounding the incident and will update the public as soon and as regularly as possible.” Sam Hobson, 29, a friend of the couple, said he believed they had been struck down by a nerve agent.
He described how on Saturday morning Sturgess fell ill and was taken to hospital and how later that morning Rowley also became sick. He said both were in hospital in isolation and he was receiving regular calls from the authorities to check he was well. “They thought it was drugs at first. They now think it’s a nerve agent,” he claimed.
Hobson, a mechanic, said he was in Salisbury with the couple on Friday evening in locations close to some of the the places associated with the Skripal case.
A number of sites believed to be areas the couple frequented before they fell ill were cordoned off overnight. There was no cordon at the ambulance station in Amesbury.
A branch of Boots in Amesbury was also closed and being guarded by police.
Meanwhile, there was an increased police presence in and around Amesbury and Salisbury. Salisbury district hospital was operating normally and officials advised people to attend routine appointments unless contacted to do otherwise.
Hobson said he and the couple spent time in “Lizzy Gardens” – Queen Elizabeth Gardens – close to the river on Friday. “We were having a drink and chilling in the sun,” he said.
They visited a number of shops including a chemist’s to buy red, white and blue dye for their hair to show their support for the England football team, a mobile phone shop, and a store to buy alcohol. They bought food and visited a charity shop to buy a blanket to sit on.
Hobson visited Rowley’s home in Muggleston Road on Saturday morning. Sturgess, who lives in Salisbury, had spent the night there. “I saw lots of ambulances there and [Sturgess] got taken out on a stretcher. She needed to be helped with her breathing,” Hobson said. Rowley came out in tears. “They said she needed to have a brain scan.”
After she was taken to hospital Hobson and Rowley went to Boots in Amesbury. Later they went to a hog roast at the local baptist church. Both the chemist’s and the church have been sealed off.
Police have also cordoned off Raleigh Garden Green, where the hog roast took place on Saturday afternoon.
Hobson said: “We went back to his place after the hog roast. We were going up to the hospital. Then he started sweating. His T-shirt was soaking wet. He got up and started rocking against the wall. His eyes were wide open and red, his pupils were like pinpricks. He began garbling incoherently and I could tell he was hallucinating. He was making weird noises and acting like a zombie. I phoned an ambulance. At first they thought it was drugs but … they know now it isn’t drugs.”
He said the couple had been together for a few months and neither worked. Hobson said they both also had one child by other partners.
The incident comes four months after the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, were poisoned by a suspected military nerve agent in Salisbury, around eight miles from Amesbury.The incident comes four months after the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, were poisoned by a suspected military nerve agent in Salisbury, around eight miles from Amesbury.
The counter-terrorism officers will have more expertise in issues to do with nerve agents and other military-grade weapons, as well as having the necessary security clearances to work with intelligence agencies. A spokesperson for Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command said: “As Wiltshire police have stated, they are keeping an open mind as to the circumstances surrounding the incident and will update the public as soon and as regularly as possible.”
A government source did not play down the potential severity of the incident, saying it was a matter of concern and was being closely monitored. The counter-terrorism officers who have joined the investigation will have more expertise in issues to do with nerve agents and other military-grade weapons, as well as having the necessary security clearances to work with intelligence agencies.
A number of sites in the Amesbury and Salisbury area were cordoned off as a precaution, although the force said it was not yet clear whether the pair were the victims of a crime. Tests were being carried out to establish the substance that led to them becoming ill.
Neighbours said they believed the two people who fell ill had been at a hog roast organised by Amesbury Baptist church. They were said not to be regular churchgoers. The Baptist church was cordoned off.
Queen Elizabeth Gardens in Salisbury, which includes a children’s playground and adjacent car park, was also sealed off, with police officers guarding the area. A nearby GP surgery, Harcourt medical centre, was closed to the public on Wednesday morning, although it later reopened. Police officers were readjusting the cordon to the perimeter of the gardens.
It was not confirmed that the sites were connected to the incident in Amesbury.
Public Health England (PHE) said it did not believe there to be a significant health risk to the wider public, although its advice was being continually assessed.Public Health England (PHE) said it did not believe there to be a significant health risk to the wider public, although its advice was being continually assessed.
The investigation into the nerve agent attack in Salisbury in March is being led by Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command, which is now involved with the investigation into the couple found in Wiltshire.
Police said the man and woman were found unconscious at an address in Muggleton Road on Saturday evening, and it was initially believed they had taken illegal drugs, but further tests were being carried out. The address is thought to be on a new housing development on the southern edge of the town, which is close to Stonehenge.Police said the man and woman were found unconscious at an address in Muggleton Road on Saturday evening, and it was initially believed they had taken illegal drugs, but further tests were being carried out. The address is thought to be on a new housing development on the southern edge of the town, which is close to Stonehenge.
A police officer was posted outside one of the properties on Wednesday morning, though no cordon was in place.A police officer was posted outside one of the properties on Wednesday morning, though no cordon was in place.
The mayor of Amesbury, Margaret Strange, visited the address to speak to police officers. She said she had not been told what had happened, but added: “Obviously it’s concerning when something like this happens on your doorstep.”
Neighbours expressed alarm at the incident. Amy Ireland, 32, said the estate was packed with firefighters, police and paramedics on Saturday. “We were on our way back from my 10-year-old son’s football presentation. There was a huge commotion. Cordons were set up and people were being moved back,” she said.Neighbours expressed alarm at the incident. Amy Ireland, 32, said the estate was packed with firefighters, police and paramedics on Saturday. “We were on our way back from my 10-year-old son’s football presentation. There was a huge commotion. Cordons were set up and people were being moved back,” she said.
“People thought it was a gas leak at first. Now we don’t know what to think. It’s very worrying. My son plays out here on the green. First Salisbury, now this.”“People thought it was a gas leak at first. Now we don’t know what to think. It’s very worrying. My son plays out here on the green. First Salisbury, now this.”
Another neighbour, Jake Murphy, said he had moved to Amesbury from Salisbury for the quiet life. “And then this happens. There are all sorts of rumours floating about that it’s to do with the Russians. But I don’t know if that’s right.”
A police statement said: “Wiltshire police and partners have this evening declared a major incident after it is suspected that two people might have been exposed to an unknown substance in Amesbury.
“Emergency services were called to an address in Muggleton Road, Amesbury on Saturday evening [30 June] after a man and woman, both in their 40s, were found unconscious in a property. They are both currently receiving treatment for suspected exposure to an unknown substance at Salisbury district hospital. They are both in a critical condition.
“It was initially believed that the two patients fell ill after using possibly heroin or crack cocaine from a contaminated batch of drugs. However, further testing is now ongoing to establish the substance which led to these patients becoming ill and we are keeping an open mind as to the circumstances surrounding this incident.”
Amesbury incident - police cordon at the baptist church. pic.twitter.com/JRzIBH2Lu2Amesbury incident - police cordon at the baptist church. pic.twitter.com/JRzIBH2Lu2
A number of sites believed to be areas the man and woman frequented before they fell ill were cordoned off overnight. There was no cordon at the ambulance station in Amesbury. Another neighbour, Jake Murphy, said he had moved to Amesbury from Salisbury for the quiet life. “And then this happens. There are all sorts of rumours floating about that it’s to do with the Russians. But I don’t know if that’s right.”
A branch of Boots in Amesbury was also closed and being guarded by police. Sergei and Yulia Skripal spent weeks in Salisbury district hospital where they were treated for suspected exposure to the Russian-created nerve agent novichok. The British government has accused Moscow of being behind the attack on them.
Meanwhile, there was an increased police presence in and around Amesbury and Salisbury. Salisbury district hospital was operating normally and officials advised people to attend routine appointments unless contacted to do otherwise.
A PHE spokesman said: “The current advice from PHE England, based upon the number of casualties affected, is that it is not believed that there is a significant health risk to the wider public. This will be continually assessed as further information becomes known.”
Sergei and Yulia Skripal spent weeks in Salisbury district hospital where they were treated for suspected exposure to the Russian-created nerve agent novichok. The British government has accused Moscow of being behind the attack.
Press Association contributed to this reportPress Association contributed to this report
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