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| Experts have identified substance in suspected poisoning, Rudd suggests | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Experts have identified the substance involved in the suspected poisoning of the former Russian agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter on Sunday, the home secretary, Amber Rudd, has suggested. | |
| Speaking after chairing a meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra committee to discuss the incident, Rudd said: “We do know more about the substance and the police will be making a further statement this afternoon in order to share some of that.” | |
| In a pooled TV interview, she added: “I would like to reassure the public that we have the ability and the wherewithal and the knowledge to keep them completely safe.” | |
| Rudd also cautioned against speculation over the case. “We need to make sure that the police and the other services have the space to continue that investigation. We need to keep a cool head and make sure that we collect all the evidence we can. | Rudd also cautioned against speculation over the case. “We need to make sure that the police and the other services have the space to continue that investigation. We need to keep a cool head and make sure that we collect all the evidence we can. |
| “We need to make sure that we respond not to rumour but to all the evidence that they collect and then we will decide what action to take.” | “We need to make sure that we respond not to rumour but to all the evidence that they collect and then we will decide what action to take.” |
| Sources close to British intelligence said toxicology tests would be key in the days ahead. They warned that other factors or triggers may have been involved. | |
| Skripal was found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury on Sunday afternoon. The woman next to him was identified as Yulia Skripal, 33. Both remain critically ill and in intensive care after exposure to an “unknown substance”. | Skripal was found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury on Sunday afternoon. The woman next to him was identified as Yulia Skripal, 33. Both remain critically ill and in intensive care after exposure to an “unknown substance”. |
| It has emerged Skripal and his daughter had been in the city centre from 1.30pm, almost three hours before they collapsed. Police are also keen to get any video footage from shoppers or visitors to Salisbury on Sunday afternoon. | |
| The Metropolitan police said due to the “unusual circumstances”, its counter-terrorism unit would lead the investigation. | The Metropolitan police said due to the “unusual circumstances”, its counter-terrorism unit would lead the investigation. |
| On Wednesday, the Met issued a fresh statement on the incident. “At approximately 4.15pm, a man in his 60s and a woman in her 30s were found unconscious on a bench near the Maltings shopping centre, Salisbury,” it said. | On Wednesday, the Met issued a fresh statement on the incident. “At approximately 4.15pm, a man in his 60s and a woman in her 30s were found unconscious on a bench near the Maltings shopping centre, Salisbury,” it said. |
| “They are currently being treated at hospital for suspected exposure to an unknown substance. Both remain in a critical condition in intensive care. We are not releasing details of the man and woman who are critically ill. | “They are currently being treated at hospital for suspected exposure to an unknown substance. Both remain in a critical condition in intensive care. We are not releasing details of the man and woman who are critically ill. |
| “Wiltshire police, along with colleagues from the ambulance and fire services, attended the scene and cordons were established, which remain in place. It has not been declared a terrorist incident and we continue to keep an open mind as to what happened. | “Wiltshire police, along with colleagues from the ambulance and fire services, attended the scene and cordons were established, which remain in place. It has not been declared a terrorist incident and we continue to keep an open mind as to what happened. |
| “Cordons are now in place at a further scene near Solstice Park in Amesbury. This is linked to the investigation and is a precautionary measure.” | “Cordons are now in place at a further scene near Solstice Park in Amesbury. This is linked to the investigation and is a precautionary measure.” |
| It is understood that this part of the operation relates to emergency vehicles involved in taking Skripal to hospital. | It is understood that this part of the operation relates to emergency vehicles involved in taking Skripal to hospital. |
| Officers have carried out a CCTV investigation and spoken to a number of people as part of the inquiry, and are appealing to anybody who visited Salisbury city centre and the surrounding areas on Sunday afternoon, and has not yet spoken to police, to get in touch. | |
| They are keen to speak to anyone who visited Zizzi restaurant on Castle Street and the Bishop’s Mill pub in the Maltings, both premises the father and daughter are believed to have visited. | They are keen to speak to anyone who visited Zizzi restaurant on Castle Street and the Bishop’s Mill pub in the Maltings, both premises the father and daughter are believed to have visited. |
| The Met assistant commissioner Mark Rowley, the head of counter-terrorism policing, said: “Working alongside Wiltshire police and partner agencies, we continue to carry out extensive inquiries. This investigation is at the early stages and any speculation is unhelpful at this time. | The Met assistant commissioner Mark Rowley, the head of counter-terrorism policing, said: “Working alongside Wiltshire police and partner agencies, we continue to carry out extensive inquiries. This investigation is at the early stages and any speculation is unhelpful at this time. |
| “The focus at this time is to establish what has caused these people to become critically ill. We would like to reassure members of the public that this incident is being taken extremely seriously and we currently do not believe there is any risk to the wider public. | “The focus at this time is to establish what has caused these people to become critically ill. We would like to reassure members of the public that this incident is being taken extremely seriously and we currently do not believe there is any risk to the wider public. |
| “The two people taken ill were in Salisbury centre from around 1.30pm. Did you see anything out of the ordinary? It may be that at the time, nothing appeared out of place or untoward, but with what you now know, you remember something that might be of significance. Your memory of that afternoon and your movements alone could help us with missing pieces of the investigation. The weather was poor that day, so there were not as many people out and about. Every statement we can take is important.” | “The two people taken ill were in Salisbury centre from around 1.30pm. Did you see anything out of the ordinary? It may be that at the time, nothing appeared out of place or untoward, but with what you now know, you remember something that might be of significance. Your memory of that afternoon and your movements alone could help us with missing pieces of the investigation. The weather was poor that day, so there were not as many people out and about. Every statement we can take is important.” |
| The temporary chief constable of Wiltshire police, Kier Pritchard, said: “We continue to work with our partners, including Public Health England, the local NHS trust, local authorities and emergency services. The public will continue to see a high visible policing presence in Salisbury city to help reassure our communities.” | |
| Sergei Skripal | Sergei Skripal |
| Amber Rudd | Amber Rudd |
| Police | Police |
| UK security and counter-terrorism | UK security and counter-terrorism |
| Espionage | |
| Russia | |
| news | news |
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