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| Amesbury poisoning: Russia using UK as 'dumping ground' | Amesbury poisoning: Russia using UK as 'dumping ground' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The home secretary has accused Russia of using Britain as a "dumping ground for poison" after a second incident involving the nerve agent Novichok. | |
| Charlie Rowley, 45, and Dawn Sturgess, 44, collapsed at a house in Amesbury, Wiltshire, on Saturday and remain critically ill. | Charlie Rowley, 45, and Dawn Sturgess, 44, collapsed at a house in Amesbury, Wiltshire, on Saturday and remain critically ill. |
| Sajid Javid said the agent was the same as that used on ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in March. | |
| Russia said Theresa May's government was subjecting them "to hell". | Russia said Theresa May's government was subjecting them "to hell". |
| Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova urged police not to be led by the "dirty political game" and said she was confident London would have to apologise to Russia. | Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova urged police not to be led by the "dirty political game" and said she was confident London would have to apologise to Russia. |
| In a statement to MPs, Mr Javid said: "It is now time that the Russian state comes forward and explains exactly what has gone on." | In a statement to MPs, Mr Javid said: "It is now time that the Russian state comes forward and explains exactly what has gone on." |
| He said the "strong working assumption" was that the couple came into contact with the nerve agent in a different location to the sites which had been part of the clean-up operation in near-by Salisbury after the Skripal poisoning. | He said the "strong working assumption" was that the couple came into contact with the nerve agent in a different location to the sites which had been part of the clean-up operation in near-by Salisbury after the Skripal poisoning. |
| "It is completely unacceptable for our people to be either deliberate or accidental targets, or for our streets, our parks, our towns, to be dumping grounds for poison," he added. | "It is completely unacceptable for our people to be either deliberate or accidental targets, or for our streets, our parks, our towns, to be dumping grounds for poison," he added. |
| He said he could not rule out the possibility that the Novichok found in Amesbury was from the same batch used in the Salisbury attack. | He said he could not rule out the possibility that the Novichok found in Amesbury was from the same batch used in the Salisbury attack. |
| "We cannot attribute this to the same batch at this point and scientists will be looking into that," he said. | "We cannot attribute this to the same batch at this point and scientists will be looking into that," he said. |
| "I'm also told that may not even be possible because of a number of factors, but we cannot rule out, of course, that it was from the same batch." | "I'm also told that may not even be possible because of a number of factors, but we cannot rule out, of course, that it was from the same batch." |
| BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera said the most likely hypothesis was that the Novichok was left over from the attack on the Skripals. | BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera said the most likely hypothesis was that the Novichok was left over from the attack on the Skripals. |
| Earlier, Mrs May said it was "deeply disturbing" to see two more people exposed to Novichok in the UK, and the police would leave "no stone unturned in their investigation". | Earlier, Mrs May said it was "deeply disturbing" to see two more people exposed to Novichok in the UK, and the police would leave "no stone unturned in their investigation". |
| Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said British streets must not be allowed to become "killing fields for state actors". | Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said British streets must not be allowed to become "killing fields for state actors". |
| What happened? | What happened? |
| On Saturday, paramedics were called twice to a house in Muggleton Road in Amesbury - first at 11:00 BST after Ms Sturgess collapsed, then later the same day, after Mr Rowley also fell ill. | On Saturday, paramedics were called twice to a house in Muggleton Road in Amesbury - first at 11:00 BST after Ms Sturgess collapsed, then later the same day, after Mr Rowley also fell ill. |
| Wiltshire Police said it was initially thought the two patients had been using heroin or crack cocaine from a contaminated batch of drugs. | Wiltshire Police said it was initially thought the two patients had been using heroin or crack cocaine from a contaminated batch of drugs. |
| In the early hours of Wednesday police declared a "major incident" after revealing the couple had been exposed to an "unknown substance". | In the early hours of Wednesday police declared a "major incident" after revealing the couple had been exposed to an "unknown substance". |
| By late that evening, Scotland Yard said Novichok was to blame following analysis at the defence research facility at Porton Down, Wiltshire. | By late that evening, Scotland Yard said Novichok was to blame following analysis at the defence research facility at Porton Down, Wiltshire. |
| What do we know about the couple's movements? | What do we know about the couple's movements? |
| Partners Charlie Rowley and Dawn Sturgess spent Friday afternoon and evening visiting shops in Salisbury, the city where Mr Skripal and his daughter were poisoned. | Partners Charlie Rowley and Dawn Sturgess spent Friday afternoon and evening visiting shops in Salisbury, the city where Mr Skripal and his daughter were poisoned. |
| The following day Ms Sturgess, who is understood to be a mother of three, was taken away on a stretcher by an ambulance crew. | The following day Ms Sturgess, who is understood to be a mother of three, was taken away on a stretcher by an ambulance crew. |
| Her friend Sam Hobson said she had appeared to have a fit and was "foaming at the mouth". | Her friend Sam Hobson said she had appeared to have a fit and was "foaming at the mouth". |
| Shortly after, Mr Rowley started "rocking against the wall", said Mr Hobson. | Shortly after, Mr Rowley started "rocking against the wall", said Mr Hobson. |
| "His eyes were wide open, glazed and pinpricked, and he was sweating, dribbling and making weird noises." | "His eyes were wide open, glazed and pinpricked, and he was sweating, dribbling and making weird noises." |
| Mr Hobson said the police and firefighters were in "hazard suits" and "cordoned it all off". | Mr Hobson said the police and firefighters were in "hazard suits" and "cordoned it all off". |
| Ms Sturgess' father Stephen, 65, told The Times the family found out from TV news that she may have been poisoned by a nerve agent. | Ms Sturgess' father Stephen, 65, told The Times the family found out from TV news that she may have been poisoned by a nerve agent. |
| "We heard from the hospital on Sunday, and we gave them Dawn's GP details but we didn't hear anything from the police. | "We heard from the hospital on Sunday, and we gave them Dawn's GP details but we didn't hear anything from the police. |
| "We know as much as the next person in the street. We actually called the police station for information." | "We know as much as the next person in the street. We actually called the police station for information." |
| Natalie Smyth from Amesbury said: "I'm furious that it took four days for them [police] to even mention it could have been Novichock." | |
| "Were they lying to us about it being drug related?" | |
| What is Novichok? | What is Novichok? |
| Novichok, a group of nerve agents developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s, block messages from the nerves to the muscles. | |
| This affects breathing, can cause paralysis and lead to the collapse of bodily functions. There are antidotes to help reverse the chemical effects. | This affects breathing, can cause paralysis and lead to the collapse of bodily functions. There are antidotes to help reverse the chemical effects. |
| They act quickest when ingested or inhaled and more slowly when contact is made through skin exposure. | |
| Novichok nerve agents are designed to be persistent - neither evaporating nor decomposing quickly. | |
| In March Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found slumped on a bench in Salisbury - about 10 miles from Amesbury. | In March Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found slumped on a bench in Salisbury - about 10 miles from Amesbury. |
| They were critically ill in hospital for weeks but recovered sufficiently to be discharged: Yulia in April and her father in May. | They were critically ill in hospital for weeks but recovered sufficiently to be discharged: Yulia in April and her father in May. |
| The highest concentration of Novichok was found on the Skripals' front door. | The highest concentration of Novichok was found on the Skripals' front door. |
| The UK government blamed Russia for the assassination attempt but Russia has denied any involvement and accused the UK of inventing a "fake story". | The UK government blamed Russia for the assassination attempt but Russia has denied any involvement and accused the UK of inventing a "fake story". |
| How did it happen? | How did it happen? |
| The most likely hypothesis was that the Novichok was left over from the attack on the Skripals, says BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera. | The most likely hypothesis was that the Novichok was left over from the attack on the Skripals, says BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera. |
| Mr Javid said this was the "leading line of inquiry". | Mr Javid said this was the "leading line of inquiry". |
| Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said they could not confirm whether the nerve agent came from the same batch but the possibility was "clearly a line of inquiry". | Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said they could not confirm whether the nerve agent came from the same batch but the possibility was "clearly a line of inquiry". |
| There was nothing in the couple's background to suggest the pair had been targeted, he said. | There was nothing in the couple's background to suggest the pair had been targeted, he said. |
| His officers are examining the couple's movements to determine where they were poisoned. | His officers are examining the couple's movements to determine where they were poisoned. |
| So far no contaminated items have been found and the police say they have no idea what the nerve agent was contained in. | So far no contaminated items have been found and the police say they have no idea what the nerve agent was contained in. |
| Chemical weapons expert Richard Guthrie said it was possible that the couple came across the Novichok which poisoned the Skripals after it had been disposed of "in a haphazard way". | Chemical weapons expert Richard Guthrie said it was possible that the couple came across the Novichok which poisoned the Skripals after it had been disposed of "in a haphazard way". |
| Are others at risk? | Are others at risk? |
| The risk to the general public remains low, says England's chief medical officer Sally Davies. | The risk to the general public remains low, says England's chief medical officer Sally Davies. |
| However, she advises people who had been in the cordoned-off areas to wash their clothes and wipe down personal items. | However, she advises people who had been in the cordoned-off areas to wash their clothes and wipe down personal items. |
| Residents at John Baker House, the supported housing where Ms Sturgess is believed to have been staying, have been evacuated and told they will have to be rehoused. | Residents at John Baker House, the supported housing where Ms Sturgess is believed to have been staying, have been evacuated and told they will have to be rehoused. |
| The police warned members of the public against picking anything up if they didn't know what it was. | The police warned members of the public against picking anything up if they didn't know what it was. |
| Sites in Amesbury and Salisbury believed to have been visited by the couple before they fell ill have been cordoned off as a precaution, including a church, park and chemist. | Sites in Amesbury and Salisbury believed to have been visited by the couple before they fell ill have been cordoned off as a precaution, including a church, park and chemist. |
| This latest incident is likely to raise fears about the efficacy of a multimillion pound clean-up to decontaminate nine locations across Salisbury after the Skripal poisoning. | This latest incident is likely to raise fears about the efficacy of a multimillion pound clean-up to decontaminate nine locations across Salisbury after the Skripal poisoning. |
| What's been the reaction in Russia? | What's been the reaction in Russia? |
| There have been accusations of the UK persecuting Russia and failing to cooperate. | There have been accusations of the UK persecuting Russia and failing to cooperate. |
| The Skripal case is still shrouded in darkness, says Russia spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, as she called on Theresa May's government to stop the "dirty" games. | The Skripal case is still shrouded in darkness, says Russia spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, as she called on Theresa May's government to stop the "dirty" games. |
| She says Russia has sent "dozens of offers of cooperation". | She says Russia has sent "dozens of offers of cooperation". |
| Russian media: 'Groundhog Day' | Russian media: 'Groundhog Day' |
| By BBC Monitoring | By BBC Monitoring |
| The state media in Russia are deflecting any suggestions of a Russian link to the new poisoning. | The state media in Russia are deflecting any suggestions of a Russian link to the new poisoning. |
| Even before it emerged that the Novichok agent was involved, Wednesday night's primetime TV bulletins sarcastically said it was only a matter of time before Moscow gets the blame. | Even before it emerged that the Novichok agent was involved, Wednesday night's primetime TV bulletins sarcastically said it was only a matter of time before Moscow gets the blame. |
| State-run Rossiya 1 suggested it might have been staged by the British government out of spite over the "fabulous" World Cup hosted by Russia. | State-run Rossiya 1 suggested it might have been staged by the British government out of spite over the "fabulous" World Cup hosted by Russia. |
| NTV - owned by state gas giant Gazprom - called it "another dodgy story" from the Salisbury area, this time aimed at deterring fans from coming to Russia. | NTV - owned by state gas giant Gazprom - called it "another dodgy story" from the Salisbury area, this time aimed at deterring fans from coming to Russia. |
| Again, it added, the British had offered no detailed evidence: "Boris Johnson and British journalists will think up the rest." | Again, it added, the British had offered no detailed evidence: "Boris Johnson and British journalists will think up the rest." |
| Channel One accused the UK of "dragging old skeletons out of the closet" to discredit Moscow ahead of President Vladimir Putin's upcoming summit with Donald Trump. | Channel One accused the UK of "dragging old skeletons out of the closet" to discredit Moscow ahead of President Vladimir Putin's upcoming summit with Donald Trump. |
| "Groundhog Day. New Skripals in Salisbury. Really?" said its presenter. | "Groundhog Day. New Skripals in Salisbury. Really?" said its presenter. |
| Are you in the area? Do you have any information to share? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the area? Do you have any information to share? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
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