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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/11/novichok-victim-charlie-rowley-speaks-to-police-nerve-agent
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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Novichok victim out of critical condition and speaking to police | Novichok victim out of critical condition and speaking to police |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Wiltshire man poisoned by novichok is no longer in a critical condition and has begun talking to detectives who are trying to find the source and location of the nerve agent. | The Wiltshire man poisoned by novichok is no longer in a critical condition and has begun talking to detectives who are trying to find the source and location of the nerve agent. |
| Charlie Rowley, 45, spent days in a coma after being taken seriously ill on 30 June. Salisbury district hospital’s nursing director, Lorna Wilkinson, said he had made further progress overnight. | |
| “He is no longer in a critical condition. His condition is now serious but stable. Our staff will continue to work hard to provide the care that Charlie needs. Charlie still has some way to go to recover but the progress we’ve seen so far gives us cause for optimism.” | “He is no longer in a critical condition. His condition is now serious but stable. Our staff will continue to work hard to provide the care that Charlie needs. Charlie still has some way to go to recover but the progress we’ve seen so far gives us cause for optimism.” |
| Rowley is under guard in hospital and may have information with significant implications for public safety, national security and UK relations with Russia, which has been blamed for the use of novichok on British soil. | Rowley is under guard in hospital and may have information with significant implications for public safety, national security and UK relations with Russia, which has been blamed for the use of novichok on British soil. |
| Detectives from Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command believe they may have to wait days for Rowley to regain his memory and the ability to focus on the questions he is being asked. | Detectives from Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command believe they may have to wait days for Rowley to regain his memory and the ability to focus on the questions he is being asked. |
| The crucial question is when and where he came across a container containing novichok. Rowley and his partner, Dawn Sturgess, handled the small container, made of glass, plastic or metal, which led to them falling ill on Saturday. Sturgess, 44, died on Sunday evening. | The crucial question is when and where he came across a container containing novichok. Rowley and his partner, Dawn Sturgess, handled the small container, made of glass, plastic or metal, which led to them falling ill on Saturday. Sturgess, 44, died on Sunday evening. |
| Rowley was described as very tired and groggy due to the effects of the nerve agent. | Rowley was described as very tired and groggy due to the effects of the nerve agent. |
| Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command said: “Officers from the investigation team have spoken briefly to Charlie and will be looking to further speak with him in the coming days as they continue to try to establish how he and Dawn came to be contaminated with the nerve agent. | Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command said: “Officers from the investigation team have spoken briefly to Charlie and will be looking to further speak with him in the coming days as they continue to try to establish how he and Dawn came to be contaminated with the nerve agent. |
| “Any contact officers have with Charlie will be done in close consultation with the hospital and his doctors. We will not be providing further commentary around our contact with Charlie.” | “Any contact officers have with Charlie will be done in close consultation with the hospital and his doctors. We will not be providing further commentary around our contact with Charlie.” |
| Four months ago novichok was used to try to kill a Russian former spy, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter, Yulia, at their Salisbury home. | Four months ago novichok was used to try to kill a Russian former spy, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter, Yulia, at their Salisbury home. |
| Meanwhile, Britain’s top counter-terrorism officer has said the nerve agent could remain effective for up to 50 years if it is in a container. | Meanwhile, Britain’s top counter-terrorism officer has said the nerve agent could remain effective for up to 50 years if it is in a container. |
| Neil Basu told a packed public meeting in Amesbury on Tuesday night that no forensic link had been established between the novichok that poisoned Sturgess and Rowley, and that which led to the collapse of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia – and it was possible a scientific link is never established. | Neil Basu told a packed public meeting in Amesbury on Tuesday night that no forensic link had been established between the novichok that poisoned Sturgess and Rowley, and that which led to the collapse of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia – and it was possible a scientific link is never established. |
| But Basu, an assistant commissioner with the Metropolitan police who leads the police counter-terrorism network, said he believed it was implausible there was no connection between the two incidents. | But Basu, an assistant commissioner with the Metropolitan police who leads the police counter-terrorism network, said he believed it was implausible there was no connection between the two incidents. |
| He said it was possible the pair had picked up a container of novichok at the time of the Skripal attack in March but had only now opened it. He accepted there could even be several containers of novichok – but it was impossible to know. | He said it was possible the pair had picked up a container of novichok at the time of the Skripal attack in March but had only now opened it. He accepted there could even be several containers of novichok – but it was impossible to know. |
| Basu also said for the first time that a “particular” area of Queen Elizabeth Gardens in Salisbury, rather than the whole park, was a focus. He said it would be several more weeks, if not months, before the investigation was over. | Basu also said for the first time that a “particular” area of Queen Elizabeth Gardens in Salisbury, rather than the whole park, was a focus. He said it would be several more weeks, if not months, before the investigation was over. |
| Basu also gave more detail on the attack on the Skripals. “They had no idea they were being targeted,” he said. “They had no idea they had been contaminated.” | Basu also gave more detail on the attack on the Skripals. “They had no idea they were being targeted,” he said. “They had no idea they had been contaminated.” |
| He reiterated that police believed the place where they had been poisoned was their front door. | He reiterated that police believed the place where they had been poisoned was their front door. |
| Basu also said he did not believe there was much novichok in Salisbury – because the attackers would have been “foolish” to carry a large amount in. He said he did not believe Sturgess and Rowley were targeted. “I think they are the unluckiest people ever,” he added. | Basu also said he did not believe there was much novichok in Salisbury – because the attackers would have been “foolish” to carry a large amount in. He said he did not believe Sturgess and Rowley were targeted. “I think they are the unluckiest people ever,” he added. |
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