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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/04/why-has-wiltshire-couples-health-led-to-cobra-emergency-meeting
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| Why has Wiltshire couple's health led to Cobra emergency meeting? | Why has Wiltshire couple's health led to Cobra emergency meeting? |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Why the concern over the incident in Amesbury, Wiltshire? | Why the concern over the incident in Amesbury, Wiltshire? |
| A couple living in Amesbury, Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley, were taken to hospital on Saturday night. The initial suspicion, according to police, was that it was drugs-related, but doctors were unable to identify the substance. | A couple living in Amesbury, Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley, were taken to hospital on Saturday night. The initial suspicion, according to police, was that it was drugs-related, but doctors were unable to identify the substance. |
| The same hospital treated Sergei and Julia Skripal, the Russian couple targeted in Salisbury by the nerve agent novichok, and it was worried by similarities. | The same hospital treated Sergei and Julia Skripal, the Russian couple targeted in Salisbury by the nerve agent novichok, and it was worried by similarities. |
| Overnight on Tuesday, Wiltshire police, sensitive after the Salisbury attack, declared it a “major incident”. | |
| The police and government stressed they were keeping an open mind: it might be something “sinister” connected to the Skripal attack or there might be a totally different explanation. They said they were awaiting the outcome of tests into the mystery substance. | The police and government stressed they were keeping an open mind: it might be something “sinister” connected to the Skripal attack or there might be a totally different explanation. They said they were awaiting the outcome of tests into the mystery substance. |
| Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, former commanding officer of the UK Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Regiment, said the key was Amesbury’s proximity to Salisbury. | Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, former commanding officer of the UK Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Regiment, said the key was Amesbury’s proximity to Salisbury. |
| “If it had happened anywhere else, it is doubtful if anyone would have paid much attention,” he said. “The authorities are concerned it could be collateral damage from Salisbury.” | “If it had happened anywhere else, it is doubtful if anyone would have paid much attention,” he said. “The authorities are concerned it could be collateral damage from Salisbury.” |
| Since the attack on the Skripals in March, work has been underway to clean up areas in Salisbury that could have been contaminated. | Since the attack on the Skripals in March, work has been underway to clean up areas in Salisbury that could have been contaminated. |
| Why did the Wiltshire police statement throw Whitehall and Westminster into panic? | Why did the Wiltshire police statement throw Whitehall and Westminster into panic? |
| The statement took them by surprise. It was issued overnight and the first many officials knew about it was when they got up in the morning. | The statement took them by surprise. It was issued overnight and the first many officials knew about it was when they got up in the morning. |
| Although the police statement described it as a “major incident”, that should not be read as confirmation that it is serious. It is a technical term applied to a whole range of situations, used by the police and emergency services when referring to an event requiring various agencies to coordinate their efforts. | Although the police statement described it as a “major incident”, that should not be read as confirmation that it is serious. It is a technical term applied to a whole range of situations, used by the police and emergency services when referring to an event requiring various agencies to coordinate their efforts. |
| Why are the tests being carried out at the secretive biological warfare centre Porton Down? | Why are the tests being carried out at the secretive biological warfare centre Porton Down? |
| Normally, such tests would be carried out in-house at the hospital or another NHS agency. But Porton Down is close by and identified the use of novichok in the Skripal case. | Normally, such tests would be carried out in-house at the hospital or another NHS agency. But Porton Down is close by and identified the use of novichok in the Skripal case. |
| What is the significance of the counter-terrorism unit of the Metropolitan police becoming involved? | What is the significance of the counter-terrorism unit of the Metropolitan police becoming involved? |
| The counter-terrorism unit deals with terrorism nationwide, but its involvement at this stage is purely procedural. Its members have the security clearance needed to deal with the intelligence agencies. | The counter-terrorism unit deals with terrorism nationwide, but its involvement at this stage is purely procedural. Its members have the security clearance needed to deal with the intelligence agencies. |
| It does not mean terrorism is involved or that there is any link to counter-espionage operations. Wiltshire police retain the lead in the investigation. | It does not mean terrorism is involved or that there is any link to counter-espionage operations. Wiltshire police retain the lead in the investigation. |
| Why did the government up the ante by calling a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee? | Why did the government up the ante by calling a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee? |
| Cobra, which stands for Cabinet Office briefing room A, usually brings together government officials, intelligence agencies, police and ministers from relevant departments, and is often chaired by the prime minister. | Cobra, which stands for Cabinet Office briefing room A, usually brings together government officials, intelligence agencies, police and ministers from relevant departments, and is often chaired by the prime minister. |
| A Cobra meeting suggests there is good reason to be worried and a Downing Street spokesperson said the incident was being treated “with the utmost seriousness”. But such meetings are often just precautionary. | A Cobra meeting suggests there is good reason to be worried and a Downing Street spokesperson said the incident was being treated “with the utmost seriousness”. But such meetings are often just precautionary. |
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