Cause for alarm?

Seven days on from the discovery of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia slumped on a bench in Salisbury, the residents of the Wiltshire city are entitled to feel both alarmed and exasperated. For a week they were told that there was no wider danger from the apparent nerve agent attack on the former Russian spy. Assurances were given by the Home Secretary, the police and Public Health England that the emergency was localised.

Yet far from being contained, the incident seems to have grown. The arrival of Army specialist chemical warfare troops has understandably spooked people who had been told they had nothing to fear for themselves and their families.

If there is no risk, why are so many soldiers required and why do they need to dress in protective “hazmat” suits not available to the rest of the populace? Now about 500 people thought to have been in the restaurant or pub which the Skripals visited last Sunday have been told they need to wash their clothes and possessions.

Dame Sally Smith, the chief medical officer, who has been at the scene, said the authorities are adopting a cautious “belt-and-braces” approach that is designed to eradicate all danger and that the risks of contamination remained low. But since the police have not yet said what nerve agent was used, even though it has been identified by Porton Down scientists, people are bound to remain anxious.

Ms Rudd and the police have been commendably open so far in updating the public on the latest stages of the investigation into this outrage. Its very brazenness makes forensic research difficult and they are right to avoid any panic. But they must not leave Salisbury people wondering whether there is something they are not being told.