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| Amesbury: Two collapse near Russian spy poisoning site | Amesbury: Two collapse near Russian spy poisoning site |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A man and woman are in a critical condition after being exposed to an unknown substance, which counter terrorism officers are investigating. | |
| The pair, in their 40s, were found unconscious in what was thought to be in a drugs-related incident in Amesbury, Wiltshire, on Saturday. | The pair, in their 40s, were found unconscious in what was thought to be in a drugs-related incident in Amesbury, Wiltshire, on Saturday. |
| It is understood tests are being carried out on the substance at a government chemical weapons laboratory. | |
| Amesbury is about 10 miles from the Salisbury Russian spy poisoning site. | |
| Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with Novichok, a suspected military nerve agent, in March. | |
| The Met said counter terrorism officers are now working with Wiltshire Police "given the recent events in Salisbury". | |
| Wiltshire Police said it is "open-minded" about the cause after a couple were found at a house in Muggleton Road, Amesbury. | |
| While it was not clear whether a crime had been committed, the force said, a number of places in Amesbury and Salisbury known to have been frequented by the couple had been cordoned off. | While it was not clear whether a crime had been committed, the force said, a number of places in Amesbury and Salisbury known to have been frequented by the couple had been cordoned off. |
| It said the public can expect to see an increased police presence in and around Amesbury and Salisbury. | |
| "It was initially believed that the two patients fell ill after using possibly heroin or crack cocaine from a contaminated batch of drugs," Wiltshire Police said. | "It was initially believed that the two patients fell ill after using possibly heroin or crack cocaine from a contaminated batch of drugs," Wiltshire Police said. |
| "They are both currently receiving treatment for suspected exposure to an unknown substance at Salisbury District Hospital," it added. | "They are both currently receiving treatment for suspected exposure to an unknown substance at Salisbury District Hospital," it added. |
| The couple are believed to have attended a family fun day at Amesbury Baptist Church on Saturday afternoon before they were found unconscious in the property. | The couple are believed to have attended a family fun day at Amesbury Baptist Church on Saturday afternoon before they were found unconscious in the property. |
| Roy Collins, church secretary, said "nobody else has suffered any ill-effects" from attending the community event and "there was nothing going on that was nefarious". | Roy Collins, church secretary, said "nobody else has suffered any ill-effects" from attending the community event and "there was nothing going on that was nefarious". |
| "There have been no reports of any other incidents," he said. | "There have been no reports of any other incidents," he said. |
| "We are all quite puzzled and shocked - naturally the connection with Salisbury and recent events there mean there is a heightened public interest." | "We are all quite puzzled and shocked - naturally the connection with Salisbury and recent events there mean there is a heightened public interest." |
| Boots has closed its Amesbury store as "a precautionary measure" to allow police to carry out an investigation, a spokesperson confirmed. | |
| At the scene: Charlotte Callen, Home Affairs Correspondent | At the scene: Charlotte Callen, Home Affairs Correspondent |
| Neighbours tell me the peace at this usually quiet new estate in Amesbury was broken at about 18:30 BST on Saturday evening. | Neighbours tell me the peace at this usually quiet new estate in Amesbury was broken at about 18:30 BST on Saturday evening. |
| It was hot and many were out having barbecues when they heard sirens and saw flashing lights as first ambulances, then the fire brigade and police arrived in Muggleton Road. | It was hot and many were out having barbecues when they heard sirens and saw flashing lights as first ambulances, then the fire brigade and police arrived in Muggleton Road. |
| They saw seven fire engines and fire officers wearing hazmat suits at the scene. The house was cordoned off and the word here was that this was a suspected drugs overdose. | They saw seven fire engines and fire officers wearing hazmat suits at the scene. The house was cordoned off and the word here was that this was a suspected drugs overdose. |
| This morning many are in disbelief that this has been declared a major incident and that so many reporters from national media have descended on their doorsteps. | This morning many are in disbelief that this has been declared a major incident and that so many reporters from national media have descended on their doorsteps. |
| Two police cars and three officers are here as Wiltshire Police is yet again dealing with a major incident just a few miles away from where Sergei and Yulia Skripal were found. | Two police cars and three officers are here as Wiltshire Police is yet again dealing with a major incident just a few miles away from where Sergei and Yulia Skripal were found. |
| Wiltshire and Dorset Fire Rescue Service said seven vehicles and two specialist ones had attended Muggleton Road on Saturday evening. | Wiltshire and Dorset Fire Rescue Service said seven vehicles and two specialist ones had attended Muggleton Road on Saturday evening. |
| Crews in hazmat suits, which are worn to deal with dangerous or hazardous substances, were sent to the scene in what the fire service described as a "standard procedure response". | Crews in hazmat suits, which are worn to deal with dangerous or hazardous substances, were sent to the scene in what the fire service described as a "standard procedure response". |
| Chloe Edwards, a 17-year-old college student who lives near the cordoned-off flat, said she was having dinner when "all these emergency vehicles turned up" and was told to stay inside. | Chloe Edwards, a 17-year-old college student who lives near the cordoned-off flat, said she was having dinner when "all these emergency vehicles turned up" and was told to stay inside. |
| "They were putting on these green suits and we thought it was the gas as our electricity was turned off as well," she said. | "They were putting on these green suits and we thought it was the gas as our electricity was turned off as well," she said. |
| "We wanted to know what happened and with the Russian attack happening not long ago we just assumed the worst. | "We wanted to know what happened and with the Russian attack happening not long ago we just assumed the worst. |
| "I am not sure how long they were in there but we couldn't get out of the house for two-and-a-half hours." | "I am not sure how long they were in there but we couldn't get out of the house for two-and-a-half hours." |
| Local resident Jake Murphy said he was watching the football on Tuesday night when "all these police cars appeared". | Local resident Jake Murphy said he was watching the football on Tuesday night when "all these police cars appeared". |
| "I didn't know what was happening," he said. | "I didn't know what was happening," he said. |
| Justin Doughty, who lives opposite the police cordon, said none of the residents have been "told anything by the police". | Justin Doughty, who lives opposite the police cordon, said none of the residents have been "told anything by the police". |
| "We would have thought the police would have been more forthcoming and keep us in the loop." | "We would have thought the police would have been more forthcoming and keep us in the loop." |
| A government spokesman said ministers were "being kept up to date about the incident in Amesbury". | A government spokesman said ministers were "being kept up to date about the incident in Amesbury". |
| Wiltshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson said the police had worked hard at "containing any risk that might be there". | Wiltshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson said the police had worked hard at "containing any risk that might be there". |
| "There's no reason to think it's connected with matters of last month," he said. | "There's no reason to think it's connected with matters of last month," he said. |
| "I haven't seen anything in this incident yet that I would consider to be an overreaction in terms of previous incidents, it all seems fairly textbook." | "I haven't seen anything in this incident yet that I would consider to be an overreaction in terms of previous incidents, it all seems fairly textbook." |
| Public Health England said it did not believe there was a "significant health risk" to the wider public, although its advice was being continually assessed. | Public Health England said it did not believe there was a "significant health risk" to the wider public, although its advice was being continually assessed. |
| The hospital was "open as usual" and advised patients to attend routine appointments unless contacted and advised to do otherwise. | The hospital was "open as usual" and advised patients to attend routine appointments unless contacted and advised to do otherwise. |