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| Amesbury Novichok contaminated item search continues | Amesbury Novichok contaminated item search continues |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Police in hazmat suits have entered a hostel in Amesbury as they search for the item contaminated with the nerve agent that poisoned a couple. | |
| Investigators believe Charlie Rowley, 45, and Dawn Sturgess, 44, were exposed to Novichok after handling the unknown object. | |
| The pair remain in a critical condition in hospital. | The pair remain in a critical condition in hospital. |
| The item was unlikely to have been left in the open before they touched it, a government scientist has told BBC News. | The item was unlikely to have been left in the open before they touched it, a government scientist has told BBC News. |
| BBC home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford said the search for the item could take "weeks or months" and that no objects have yet been collected for testing. | BBC home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford said the search for the item could take "weeks or months" and that no objects have yet been collected for testing. |
| Novichok can be degraded by rainwater and sunlight over time - meaning it was probably discovered by the pair in a contained space, the government source added. | Novichok can be degraded by rainwater and sunlight over time - meaning it was probably discovered by the pair in a contained space, the government source added. |
| But other experts have said the nerve agent was designed to be persistent and not break down. | But other experts have said the nerve agent was designed to be persistent and not break down. |
| Speaking to BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner, the source said the Novichok was so toxic it was able to pass through the skin and did not need to be ingested. | Speaking to BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner, the source said the Novichok was so toxic it was able to pass through the skin and did not need to be ingested. |
| The source added that Mr Rowley and Ms Sturgess's symptoms were the same as those shown by Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. | The source added that Mr Rowley and Ms Sturgess's symptoms were the same as those shown by Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. |
| They were both poisoned with Novichok in nearby Salisbury in March. | They were both poisoned with Novichok in nearby Salisbury in March. |
| Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat said the latest incident was a result of a "war crime" by Russia - and that using a nerve agent in a civilian area was a "vile act of terror". | Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat said the latest incident was a result of a "war crime" by Russia - and that using a nerve agent in a civilian area was a "vile act of terror". |
| But Russia - which denies involvement in either incident - said the UK was trying to "muddy the waters" and "intimidate its own citizens". | But Russia - which denies involvement in either incident - said the UK was trying to "muddy the waters" and "intimidate its own citizens". |
| Who are the victims? | Who are the victims? |
| Ms Sturgess is understood to be a mother of three with links to John Baker House, which offers supported accommodation. It has been cordoned off by police. | Ms Sturgess is understood to be a mother of three with links to John Baker House, which offers supported accommodation. It has been cordoned off by police. |
| A close friend of Ms Sturgess's, who lived in the same building, described her as a "loving and caring person" and denied suggestions she had been involved with drugs, saying she "never" used them. | A close friend of Ms Sturgess's, who lived in the same building, described her as a "loving and caring person" and denied suggestions she had been involved with drugs, saying she "never" used them. |
| Charlie Rowley's brother Matthew told the BBC: "He's a lovely guy and would do anything for you. He's a sweetheart basically." | Charlie Rowley's brother Matthew told the BBC: "He's a lovely guy and would do anything for you. He's a sweetheart basically." |
| What happened to them? | What happened to them? |
| On Saturday, paramedics were called twice to a flat in Muggleton Road in Amesbury - first at 11:00 BST after Ms Sturgess collapsed. | On Saturday, paramedics were called twice to a flat in Muggleton Road in Amesbury - first at 11:00 BST after Ms Sturgess collapsed. |
| Medics attended again several hours later, after Mr Rowley also fell ill. | Medics attended again several hours later, after Mr Rowley also fell ill. |
| A friend of the couple, Sam Hobson, said after Ms Sturgess was taken to hospital, he and Mr Rowley went to a chemist in Amesbury to collect a prescription before going to an event at a nearby Baptist church. | A friend of the couple, Sam Hobson, said after Ms Sturgess was taken to hospital, he and Mr Rowley went to a chemist in Amesbury to collect a prescription before going to an event at a nearby Baptist church. |
| The two men returned to the flat and planned to visit the hospital but Mr Rowley "started feeling really hot and sweaty" and began "acting all funny", Mr Hobson, 29, said. | The two men returned to the flat and planned to visit the hospital but Mr Rowley "started feeling really hot and sweaty" and began "acting all funny", Mr Hobson, 29, said. |
| "He was rocking against the wall and his eyes were red, pinpricked, and he started sweating loads and dribbling, so I had to phone an ambulance for him," said Mr Hobson. | "He was rocking against the wall and his eyes were red, pinpricked, and he started sweating loads and dribbling, so I had to phone an ambulance for him," said Mr Hobson. |
| Based on information from a friend and items found at the flat, Wiltshire Police initially thought the pair had fallen ill after using a contaminated batch of heroin or crack cocaine. | Based on information from a friend and items found at the flat, Wiltshire Police initially thought the pair had fallen ill after using a contaminated batch of heroin or crack cocaine. |
| But after tests at the government's military research facility at Porton Down, a major incident was declared and it was confirmed they had been exposed to Novichok. | But after tests at the government's military research facility at Porton Down, a major incident was declared and it was confirmed they had been exposed to Novichok. |
| What are the police investigating? | What are the police investigating? |
| Police do not believe Mr Rowley and Ms Sturgess were victims of a targeted attack, but instead came into contact with the substance in Amesbury or Salisbury. | Police do not believe Mr Rowley and Ms Sturgess were victims of a targeted attack, but instead came into contact with the substance in Amesbury or Salisbury. |
| Home Secretary Sajid Javid said the "strong working assumption" was that the pair came into contact with Novichok in a location which had not been cleaned up following the Skripal poisoning. | Home Secretary Sajid Javid said the "strong working assumption" was that the pair came into contact with Novichok in a location which had not been cleaned up following the Skripal poisoning. |
| Assistant Commissioner of Specialist Operations Neil Basu said that "around 100 detectives" from the Counter Terrorism Policing Network were working on the investigation. | Assistant Commissioner of Specialist Operations Neil Basu said that "around 100 detectives" from the Counter Terrorism Policing Network were working on the investigation. |
| Five areas have been cordoned off: Muggleton Road, Boots pharmacy and the Baptist church in Ambesbury; John Baker House and Queen Elizabeth Gardens in Salisbury. | Five areas have been cordoned off: Muggleton Road, Boots pharmacy and the Baptist church in Ambesbury; John Baker House and Queen Elizabeth Gardens in Salisbury. |
| What has the government said? | What has the government said? |
| Mr Javid called on Russia to explain "exactly what has gone on". | Mr Javid called on Russia to explain "exactly what has gone on". |
| The home secretary added he was "comfortable" the "exact same nerve agent" had been used in both the Salisbury and Amesbury poisonings - but added it was not yet known if they were from the same batch. | The home secretary added he was "comfortable" the "exact same nerve agent" had been used in both the Salisbury and Amesbury poisonings - but added it was not yet known if they were from the same batch. |
| Mr Tugendhat, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said responsibility for the incident "lies pretty clearly in the Kremlin, who are willing to use a persistent nerve agent among civilian communities". | Mr Tugendhat, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said responsibility for the incident "lies pretty clearly in the Kremlin, who are willing to use a persistent nerve agent among civilian communities". |
| In response to Mr Javid's comments, Russia said the British government was subjecting them "to hell". | In response to Mr Javid's comments, Russia said the British 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 the UK 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 the UK would have to apologise to Russia. |
| Russian newspapers have also been following developments. "Return of wandering Novichok" is the headline in Moskovsky Komsomolets, in an article which says the UK is "incapable of ensuring security of its citizens" and Russia is the "one to blame for anything". | Russian newspapers have also been following developments. "Return of wandering Novichok" is the headline in Moskovsky Komsomolets, in an article which says the UK is "incapable of ensuring security of its citizens" and Russia is the "one to blame for anything". |
| Meanwhile, the Rossiyskaya Gazeta says the poisoning could have been a "consequence of the Porton Down staff losing vigilance". | Meanwhile, the Rossiyskaya Gazeta says the poisoning could have been a "consequence of the Porton Down staff losing vigilance". |
| 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. |
| You can also contact us in the following ways: | You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or please use the form below: | Or please use the form below: |