‘It doesn’t make sense. Nothing ever happens then it all happens at once’
Florence Snead
Residents and shoppers in Amesbury spoke yesterday of their shock following the news of a second deadly nerve agent Novichok attack which has left a couple critically ill.
The announcement from the Metropolitan Police comes just four months after former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were targeted with the substance in Salisbury, eight miles from the Wiltshire town where the latest victims, Charlie Rowley and Dawn Sturgess,
fell ill. Both are now being treated in Salisbury District Hospital, the same medical facility where the Skripals were admitted.
Amesbury resident Katherine Eastwood-rogers, 42, who works at Perry’s Preloved clothes shop on the High Street, said some people were scared but the community was pulling together.
She said: “I think it’s scary but I think we are good here at keeping together. I moved here a year ago and it took me about three days to know everybody.”
Of the local Boots outlet which has been cordoned off, she added: “There are lots of people who use that pharmacy and many of them are very old. I think the elderly are a little bit more worried.”
Roy Coulson, who has lived in Amesbury all his life, said the confirmation that it was Novichok was “a bit of a surprise”, with residents wondering how such a thing could have happened again.
The 75-year-old said: “It doesn’t really make sense for anybody really. You go round day to day and nothing ever happens and then it all happens at once.
“They say it’s not as bad as it was in Salisbury but you can’t take that chance.”
But he added everyone seemed to be “taking it in their stride”, adding: “There’s nothing we can do about it we can just abide by what the police tell us or what we hear in the papers.”
Shop owner Tracey Knightdrewrey, said: “I’m concerned whether the long term is going to be like having seen what happened to Salisbury. My fear [is] that people will avoid the place and we need customers to keep coming in. It is business as normal. I have spoken to another retailer to talk about are we going to have to do something if trade does start to reduce but it’s too early to tell.”