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| Police fear Wiltshire couple have been exposed to nerve agent | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley, who were at a property in Amesbury, 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 couple, 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 a substance at the nearby Porton Down government defence laboratory. Whitehall sources said that it was too early to tell whether the incident was related to illegal drugs or “something more sinister”. | |
| The couple are understood to be British citizens who are 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. |
| Sam Hobson, 29, a friend of the couple, said he believed they had been struck down by a nerve agent. | 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. | 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. | 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 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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.” | 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. | 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. | 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.” | 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. | 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. |
| 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 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.” |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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.” |
| Amesbury incident - police cordon at the baptist church. pic.twitter.com/JRzIBH2Lu2 | Amesbury incident - police cordon at the baptist church. pic.twitter.com/JRzIBH2Lu2 |
| 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.” | 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.” |
| 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. | 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. |
| Press Association contributed to this report | Press Association contributed to this report |
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