‘Couple came into contact with Novichok’

A COUPLE left in a critical condition when they were exposed to a mystery substance had come into contact with the nerve agent Novichok, police confirmed last night.

Officers were called to a home in Muggleton Road, Amesbury, Wiltshire, on Saturday morning when the 44-year-old woman collapsed. They were called back later that day when the man, 45, also fell ill.

It is around eight miles from where former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with a nerve agent in March, but it is not thought that the individuals are linked in any way to Russia or to the Skripals.

Neil Basu, Assistant Commissioner of Specialist Operations at Scotland Yard, gave an update last night of a “significant development” in the investigation.

He said: “This evening we have received test results from Porton Down that show the two people have been exposed to the nerve agent Novichok.” Mr Basu said it was “a line of inquiry” over whether the latest poisoning was linked to that Sergei Skripal and Yulia.

Earlier a Downing Street spokesman said: “This is an incident which understandably is being treated with the utmost seriousness.

“Ministers and the Prime Minister are being kept updated and there was a meeting this morning of officials to receive updates on the facts of the situation.”

Wiltshire Police initially thought that the couple had taken

contaminated crack cocaine or heroin, but then decided to carry out further tests and yesterday declared a major incident.

Both are British nationals from Wiltshire and remain in a critical condition.

Mr Basu said: “The latest update we have from the hospital is that both patients remain in a critical condition. Both are British nationals and are local to the area. Officers are still working to identify their next of kin.

“At this stage, no-one else has presented with the same symptoms linked to this incident.”

Cordons remained in place in areas the pair were known to frequent in Amesbury and in Salisbury, including Queen Elizabeth Gardens and Amesbury Baptist Centre where it is believed they were last seen in public at a family fun day on Saturday.

The Metropolitan Police, said it is assisting in the case “given the recent events in Salisbury”.

Amesbury Baptist Centre secretary Roy Collins said the pair were among 200 who attended the Saturday event and they were not regulars. Last weekend we held a community fundraiser and we understand this may well be the last event this couple went to in public,” he said. “We are all quite puzzled and shocked.”

Public Health England (PHE) said it did not believe there to be a “significant health risk”.

The address where the couple were found is on a new housing development on the edge of the town.

Mr Skripal, 67, and his 33-yearold daughter were left in a critical condition after they were found slumped on a bench in Salisbury city centre on March 4 this year.

They spent weeks in hospital, where they underwent treatment for suspected exposure to Novichok.