Claims public put at risk over Novichok container

Police put the public at danger if the latest poisonings came from the container holding the Novichok used in the Salisbury attack, a former senior British military intelligence officer has said.

Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley remain in a critical condition in hospital after coming into contact with the nerve agent four months after a former Russian spy and his daughter were targeted.

Salisbury was subjected to an ongoing decontamination reportedly costing millions, but the Metropolitan Police never commented on whether the container used to ferry the Novichok was found.

One of the theories understood to be under investigation is the pair currently fighting for their lives found this item, which could be a phial or syringe, after it was discarded in a public place in the Wiltshire city.

Philip Ingram, who was in the military for more than 26 years, said: “They could have easily thrown whatever it was they used to contaminate the Skripals’ front door.

“They could have thrown it under a hedge, they could have thrown it into a school playground, they could’ve put it under the seat in a local train and could’ve caused greater casualties elsewhere.

“By not focusing on that they have put the public at risk.”

Scotland Yard did not immediately respond to a request for comment.