Police interview victim of nerve agent poisoning

POLICE have managed to briefly interview to the victim of novichok poisoning after he regained consciousness, Scotland Yard has said.

Charlie Rowley, who had been critically ill for more than a week, came out of his coma on Tuesday and was spoken to briefly by detectives who are desperately trying to locate the source of the nerve agent that poisoned him and his girlfriend, Dawn Sturgess.

The mother of three died on Sunday, but Mr Rowley’s condition has improved, leading to hopes that he could make a full recovery.

Around 100 counter terrorism experts are currently hunting for the source of the contamination, which is thought to be a container used in the original assassination attempt of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in March.

Police are working on the theory that Mr Rowley and Ms Sturgess were poisoned when they handled the contaminated container after discovering it lying around in Salisbury.

In a statement, Scotland Yard said: “Officers from the investigation team have spoken briefly to Charlie and will be looking to further speak with him in the coming days as they continue to try and establish how he and Dawn came to be contaminated with the nerve agent.

“Any contact officers have with Charlie will be done in close consultation with the hospital and his doctors.”

Earlier Salisbury District Hospital said Mr Rowley had made a steady improvement but was still critically ill.

In a statement Lorna Wilkinson, director of nursing at Salisbury District Hospital, said: “We have seen a small but significant improvement in the condition of Charlie Rowley.”