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Amesbury Novichok poisoning: What we know so far Amesbury Novichok poisoning: What we know so far
(2 days later)
A woman has died and a man remains critically ill in hospital in Wiltshire after being exposed to the nerve agent Novichok. A woman has died and a man remains seriously ill in hospital in Wiltshire after being exposed to the nerve agent Novichok.
The pair, Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley, fell ill at a house in Amesbury, about eight miles from Salisbury, on 30 June. Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley fell ill at a house in Amesbury, about eight miles from Salisbury, on 30 June.
Police said they were exposed after handling a contaminated item - although they have not identified what the item was. Police said they were exposed after handling a contaminated item or container - although they have not identified what it was.
A murder inquiry has been launched since the death of Ms Sturgess in hospital on 9 July. A post-mortem examination of her is due to take place. Ms Sturgess died in hospital on 9 July and a murder inquiry has been launched.
The poisoning comes after a Russian former spy and his daughter were poisoned with Novichok in Salisbury in March.
This is what we know so far.This is what we know so far.
What happened? What happened and when?
On Saturday, paramedics were called twice to a flat in Muggleton Road in Amesbury - first at 10:15 BST after Ms Sturgess, 44, collapsed. On Saturday 30 June, paramedics were called twice to a flat in Muggleton Road in Amesbury - first at 10:15 BST after Ms Sturgess, 44, collapsed, and again at 18:20 BST after Mr Rowley, 45, also fell ill.
Medics attended again several hours later, after Mr Rowley, 45, also fell ill.
A friend of the couple, Sam Hobson, said Ms Sturgess had appeared to have a fit and was "foaming at the mouth".A friend of the couple, Sam Hobson, said Ms Sturgess had appeared to have a fit and was "foaming at the mouth".
When Mr Rowley became ill, he was sweating profusely, dribbling and his eyes were "red, pinpricked", Mr Hobson said. When Mr Rowley became ill, he was sweating profusely, dribbling, and his eyes were "red, pinpricked", he said.
Scientists at the UK's military research lab, Porton Down, found the couple had been exposed to the nerve agent, Novichok.
What have police said?
Wiltshire Police said it was initially believed the two patients had been using heroin or crack cocaine from a contaminated batch of drugs.Wiltshire Police said it was initially believed the two patients had been using heroin or crack cocaine from a contaminated batch of drugs.
But, after more tests, police declared a major incident and counter-terror police are now leading the investigation. But after more tests, scientists at the UK's military research lab, Porton Down, found the couple had been exposed to the nerve agent Novichok.
They confirmed on Thursday that the pair had been exposed to Novichok when handling a contaminated item, but they have not revealed what it was. Police declared a major incident and counter-terror police are now leading the investigation.
A government scientist told the BBC the contaminated item was probably discovered by the couple in a contained space. What have police said?
The nerve agent was so toxic it was able to pass through the skin and did not need to be ingested, he added. Police say that the pair had a high concentration of Novichok on their hands, and so they believe they handled a contaminated item.
Five areas in Amesbury and Salisbury have been cordoned off. A government scientist told the BBC the item was probably discovered by the couple in a contained space and was so toxic it was able to pass through the skin.
What is the line of inquiry? Around 100 detectives from the Counter Terrorism Policing Network are working on the investigation, alongside Wiltshire Police.
Assistant Commissioner of Specialist Operations Neil Basu said that "around 100 detectives" from the Counter Terrorism Policing Network (CTPN) were working on the investigation, alongside Wiltshire Police. Multiple areas in Amesbury and Salisbury have been cordoned off and scientists and forensic teams in protective clothing are searching the sites.
Mr Basu added that the investigation's priority was to establish how those affected came into contact with the nerve agent. Swabs taken from the sites are being sent to a defence laboratory for testing. The operation could take "weeks or months" to complete, they say.
Officers are searching for the contaminated item which they believe was handled by Ms Sturgess and Mr Rowley. Police have spoken "briefly" to Mr Rowley after he regained consciousness and will be speaking to him more as he continues his recovery.
But police have warned the operation could take "weeks or months" to complete. Officers are also looking through more than 1,300 hours of CCTV footage.
They are looking through more than 1,300 hours of CCTV footage to help them find the source of the contamination. Russian former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned in nearby Salisbury on 4 March.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid said that working out whether there was a connection to the attempted murders of Yulia and Sergei Skripal was "clearly the main line of inquiry". Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, the head of counter-terrorism policing in the UK, said it was "implausible" that the cases were not linked.
Russian former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned nearby in Salisbury on 4 March. Russian spy: What happened to the Skripals?
Officers said no one had presented with the same symptoms and there was "nothing in their background" to suggest Mr Rowley and Ms Sturgess were targeted.
The public could expect to see an increased police presence - including "officers wearing protective equipment" - at a "number of sites" over the coming days, Mr Basu added.
Who are the victims and where had they been?Who are the victims and where had they been?
Ms Sturgess, who died on 8 July, is understood to have been a mother of three who lived at John Baker House in Salisbury, which offers supported accommodation. Dawn Sturgess, who died on 8 July, was a mother of three who lived at John Baker House in Salisbury, which offers supported accommodation.
It has been cordoned off by police and officers wearing hazmat suits were seen entering the building on Friday. Her family described her as "a gentle soul who was generous to a fault".
A close friend of Ms Sturgess's, who lived in the same building, described her as a "loving and caring person" and said she "never did drugs". Charlie Rowley is 45 and lives at the flat in Muggleton Road in Amesbury where the couple fell ill.
Mr Rowley's older brother, Matthew, said: "He's a lovely guy and would do anything for you. He's a sweetheart basically." His brother, Matthew, said: "He's a lovely guy and would do anything for you. He's a sweetheart basically."
He said what had happened to his brother was "heartbreaking" and said: "I love him to bits." He said what had happened was "heartbreaking".
Police said the pair were both at John Baker House on Friday lunchtime, before visiting a number of shops in Salisbury and heading to Queen Elizabeth Gardens. Police said the pair were both at John Baker House at 12:20 BST on 29 June, before visiting a number of shops in Salisbury and heading to Queen Elizabeth Gardens.
They returned to the hostel at around 16:20 BST, before heading to Amesbury by bus at around 22:30. They returned to the building at around 16:20 BST, before heading to Amesbury by bus at around 22:30.
Police believe they were there until emergency services were called on Saturday.Police believe they were there until emergency services were called on Saturday.
Sam Hobson, 29, who also knew the victims, said he spent time with them on Friday and Saturday.Sam Hobson, 29, who also knew the victims, said he spent time with them on Friday and Saturday.
He said after Ms Sturgess fell unconscious and 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.He said after Ms Sturgess fell unconscious and 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 "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 "acting all funny", Mr Hobson, 29, said, and an ambulance was called.
"He wasn't like he was him and 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."
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.
The leader of Salisbury City Council, Matthew Dean, said the pair were known to the local authority.
Five areas the victims are believed to have visited prior to falling ill have been cordoned off: in Amesbury they are Muggleton Road, Boots pharmacy and the Baptist church, while in Salisbury and John Baker House in Rolleston Street and Queen Elizabeth Gardens are being checked.Five areas the victims are believed to have visited prior to falling ill have been cordoned off: in Amesbury they are Muggleton Road, Boots pharmacy and the Baptist church, while in Salisbury and John Baker House in Rolleston Street and Queen Elizabeth Gardens are being checked.
On 7 July, a Wiltshire police officer was tested for possible exposure to a nerve agent but was given the all-clear by doctors at Salisbury District Hospital.
What has the government said?What has the government said?
Prime Minister Theresa May said her thoughts were with the victims of the poisoning, adding: "The message from Salisbury is clear - it is very much open for business. Prime Minister Theresa May said her thoughts were with the victims of the poisoning, adding: "the people of Salisbury and Amesbury have shown incredible resilience".
"The government will continue to provide every support to the local community." The government has allocated additional funds to support businesses and "to meet unexpected costs". In total, the region has been given more than £7.5m to help it cope with the Novichok cases.
Mr Javid called on Russia to explain "exactly what has gone on", adding: "We will stand up to the actions that threaten our security." Home Secretary Sajid Javid said that working out whether there was a connection to the attempted murders of Yulia and Sergei Skripal was "clearly the main line of inquiry".
The home secretary said 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 they were from the same batch. "We will stand up to the actions that threaten our security," he added.
Meanwhile, Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said the latest incident was a result of a "war crime" by Russia. Using a nerve agent in a civilian area was a "vile act of terror", he added.
What has Russia said?What has Russia said?
The government accused Russia of being behind the poisoning of the Skripals in March, which Moscow denied, souring relations between the two countries.The government accused Russia of being behind the poisoning of the Skripals in March, which Moscow denied, souring relations between the two countries.
In response to Mr Javid's comments that Russia needed to provide an explanation following the Amesbury incident, Russia said Mrs May's government was subjecting them "to hell". Russia said Mrs May's government was subjecting them "to hell" over the incident in Amesbury.
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.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, called the news "alarming" and said it was causing "deep concern".
"From the very beginning of the Salisbury story, Russia has categorically denied and continues to deny the possibility of any involvement in what happened there," he told state-run TV.
Is there a risk to the public?
Repeating advice from Public Health England (PHE), Mr Javid said there was "no significant risk to the wider public", adding: "The risk to the public remains low."
Security minister Ben Wallace told the BBC he could not guarantee people were "100% safe" from further contamination.
Asked whether the people of Salisbury and Amesbury were at risk, Mr Wallace said the "best intelligence officers in the world" were working on the investigation but until the full picture of the Skripal assassination attempt was known, he could not offer complete reassurance.
He added that the "nature of a nerve agent such as Novichok" meant that finding other traces of it was like looking for a "tiny needle in a haystack".
What is the health advice?What is the health advice?
PHE has urged anyone who may have visited the locations that have been cordoned off by police to wash and clean their clothing and personal items. Public Health England says the risk to the wider public is low, but has urged anyone who may have visited the locations that have been cordoned off by police to wash and clean their clothing and personal items.
Although they said there was "no immediate" danger, anyone who was at the five areas between 22:00 on 29 June and 18:30 on 30 June should: Although they said there was "no immediate" danger, anyone who was at the five areas between 22:00 BST on 29 June and 18:30 BST on 30 June should:
The risk to the public is low, said Mike Wade, from PHE South West, adding: "We will keep this assessment under constant review as further information becomes known." Chief medical officer Sally Davies has also warned those in the area against picking up "any foreign object which could contain liquid or gel".