Novichok ruled out after new Salisbury scare

POLICE have ruled out a novichok poisoning link over two customers who fell ill at a Salisbury restaurant.

Emergency workers in chemical protection suits swooped on Prezzo and sealed off nearby roads when a man in his 40s and a woman in her 30s became unwell on Sunday evening.

It is yards from where Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with the nerve agent in March, and led to fevered speculation of another incident in the city.

But last night Wiltshire Police said the response had been due to a ‘highly precautionary approach’ taken by the emergency services.

A spokesman said: ‘Both were taken to Salisbury District Hospital and were clinically assessed. We can now confirm there is nothing to suggest that novichok is the substance. The major incident status has now been stood down.’

The Skripals had eaten at a Zizzi restaurant less than half a mile from Prezzo before falling ill. They had been poisoned by novichok smeared on Mr Skripal’s front door.

Four months later, local Dawn Sturgess died after handling a discarded perfume bottle used to carry the agent. Her boyfriend Charlie Rowley is still in hospital.

Prezzo remained cordoned off yesterday as investigators try to establish how the two diners became ill.