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Novichok poisonings: police search Salisbury park visited by couple Novichok poisonings: police search Salisbury park visited by couple
(about 1 hour later)
Police investigating the Wiltshire nerve agent poisonings that left one woman dead and four seriously ill are searching a city centre park.Police investigating the Wiltshire nerve agent poisonings that left one woman dead and four seriously ill are searching a city centre park.
A fingertip search in Queen Elizabeth Gardens in Salisbury, which Dawn Sturgess visited before she fell fatally ill, started on Wednesday.A fingertip search in Queen Elizabeth Gardens in Salisbury, which Dawn Sturgess visited before she fell fatally ill, started on Wednesday.
Police have said a bottle containing the military-grade nerve agent novichok was found at the Amesbury home of Sturgess’ partner, Charlie Rowley, who remains seriously ill in hospital. Police have said a bottle containing the military-grade nerve agent novichok was found at the Amesbury home of Sturgess’s partner, Charlie Rowley, who remains seriously ill in hospital.
The Guardian understands tests show both Sturgess and Rowley handled the bottle with their right hands. A key aspect of the investigation is to determine how and where Sturgess and Rowley came upon the bottle.The Guardian understands tests show both Sturgess and Rowley handled the bottle with their right hands. A key aspect of the investigation is to determine how and where Sturgess and Rowley came upon the bottle.
Queen Elizabeth Gardens is one of the spots the couple visited the day before they fell ill. The popular riverside park is five minutes walk from the bench where the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, collapsed in March after being exposed to novichok. Queen Elizabeth Gardens is one of the spots the couple visited the day before they fell ill. The popular riverside park is five minutes’ walk from the bench where the Russian former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, collapsed in March after being exposed to novichok.
Rowley’s brother, Matthew, has claimed that the vessel was a perfume or aftershave bottle and said they found it in a park around nine days before they fell ill and sprayed themselves with it. Rowley’s brother, Matthew, has claimed the vessel was a perfume or aftershave bottle and said the couple found it in a park around nine days before they sprayed themselves with it and became ill.
In a statement, Wiltshire police said: “As part of the ongoing investigation, Wiltshire police and counter-terrorism policing specialist search trained officers will commence a structured search of Queen Elizabeth Gardens.In a statement, Wiltshire police said: “As part of the ongoing investigation, Wiltshire police and counter-terrorism policing specialist search trained officers will commence a structured search of Queen Elizabeth Gardens.
“The search is taking part to firstly assist the wider investigation and secondly, with a view to safely returning the gardens to the public. “The search is taking part to firstly assist the wider investigation and secondly with a view to safely returning the gardens to the public.
“Certain parts of the gardens will be fingertip-searched, whilst other areas will be subject of more generic searching activity. Officers will carefully check the grounds and remove key items of waste and litter as part of the search.”“Certain parts of the gardens will be fingertip-searched, whilst other areas will be subject of more generic searching activity. Officers will carefully check the grounds and remove key items of waste and litter as part of the search.”
The Wiltshire deputy chief constable, Paul Mills, said: “The commencement of the searching of the gardens is a significant step in the operation and our key priority is to return the gardens to the public at the earliest opportunity.The Wiltshire deputy chief constable, Paul Mills, said: “The commencement of the searching of the gardens is a significant step in the operation and our key priority is to return the gardens to the public at the earliest opportunity.
“We are intentionally undertaking a detailed and meticulous search so that the public can return to using the gardens with confidence when they are reopened. “We are intentionally undertaking a detailed and meticulous search so that the public can return to using the gardens with confidence when they are reopened.”
“I would like to thank the public for their continued support and understanding, whilst the gardens have been closed. We remain very aware of both the levels of concern and inconvenience the cordons are causing. We remain committed to ensuring the ongoing safety of the public both during and after the investigation. He added: “I would like to thank the public for their continued support and understanding, whilst the gardens have been closed. We remain very aware of both the levels of concern and inconvenience the cordons are causing. We remain committed to ensuring the ongoing safety of the public both during and after the investigation.
“At this time it is anticipated that the search activity will take a number of days and we will provide a full update on the work undertaken in due course.”“At this time it is anticipated that the search activity will take a number of days and we will provide a full update on the work undertaken in due course.”
Mike Wade, the Public Health England deputy director for health protection in the south west, said: “The risk to the public remains low. As a precaution Public Health England continues to strongly advise the public not to pick up any strange items such as syringes, needles, cosmetics or similar objects made of materials such as metal, plastic or glass. The advice remains – if you didn’t drop it, then don’t pick it up.” Mike Wade, the Public Health England deputy director for health protection in the south-west, said: “The risk to the public remains low. As a precaution Public Health England continues to strongly advise the public not to pick up any strange items such as syringes, needles, cosmetics or similar objects made of materials such as metal, plastic or glass. The advice remains: if you didn’t drop it then don’t pick it up.”
Police believe the nerve agent which contaminated Sturgess and Rowley was discarded during the attempted assassination of Skripal in March, who was regarded by the Kremlin as a traitor for selling state secrets. Police believe the nerve agent that contaminated Sturgess and Rowley was discarded during the attempted assassination of Sergei Skripal, who was regarded by the Kremlin as a traitor for selling state secrets.
Scientists hope there will be enough novichok left in the bottle for them to determine whether it came from the same batch used in the Skripal attack. They will compare whatever is left in the bottle with a small sample recovered from the door of the Skripal’s home. They now have small quantities from both incidents. Scientists hope there will be enough novichok left in the bottle for them to determine whether it came from the same batch used in the Skripal attack. They will compare whatever is left in the bottle with a small sample recovered from the door of the Skripals’ home.
If the samples are found to be from the same batch, it would mean whomever ordered and carried out the Skripal attack would be suspects in the murder investigation launched after Sturgess died in hospital. If the samples are found to be from the same batch, it would mean whoever ordered and carried out the Skripal attack would be suspects in the murder investigation launched after Sturgess died in hospital.
Britain believes those who tried to murder the Skripals were under the control and direction of the Russian state. The Skripals spent weeks in hospital before being discharged. A police officer, Nick Bailey, also needed hospital treatment. The government believes those who tried to murder the Skripals were under the control and direction of the Russian state. The Skripals spent weeks in hospital before being discharged. A police officer, Nick Bailey, also needed hospital treatment.
Sergei SkripalSergei Skripal
CrimeCrime
Police
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