Counter-terror police investigate Amesbury substance after pair fall ill

Counter-terror police are investigating a “major incident” in Amesbury after two people were exposed to an unknown substance which left them in a critical condition.

Samples of the substance are being sent to experts at the government chemical weapons research laboratory at Porton Down.

The incident took place roughly eight miles (13km) from Salisbury, where former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were targeted with the nerve agent novichok in March.

Scotland Yard said in a statement that “given the recent events in Salisbury, officers from the counter terrorism network are working jointly with colleagues from Wiltshire Police regarding the incident in Amesbury.

“As Wiltshire Police have stated, they are keeping an open mind as to the circumstances surrounding the incident and will update the public as soon and as regularly as possible.”

A Downing Street spokesman said the incident was being treated “with the utmost seriousness”, adding that ministers and the prime minister were receiving updates.

A meeting of the government’s Cobra emergencies committee took place at official level – not chaired by ministers – on Wednesday morning.

Police declared a major incident on Tuesday after the pair were found unconscious in a house in Muggleton Road on Saturday night.

They are both being treated at Salisbury District Hospital.

Police initially believed the Amesbury pair, who have not been named, fell ill after using heroin or crack cocaine from a contaminated batch of drugs.

But further tests are now taking place to establish the substance.

Officers were seen outside a Boots branch in Amesbury.

Boots UK said one of their stores in Amesbury has closed at the request of police, adding: “We would like to apologise for any inconvenience this may cause customers and patients, and our team are available to direct patients towards our Salisbury Street store where they will be able to access their prescription medicines.”

It is believed one of the last places the couple were seen in public was a family fun day at Amesbury Baptist Church on Saturday afternoon.

Roy Collins, church secretary, said: “Last weekend we held a community fundraiser and we understand this may well be the last event this couple went to in public.”

He said he woke on Wednesday morning to find the church cordoned off by police.

“We are all quite puzzled and shocked – naturally the connection with Salisbury and recent events there mean there is a heightened public interest,” he added.

“We are praying for the couple, one of our members knows them and clearly there are concerns for them and any others in the community.”

Those living in the areas have been told to expect an increased police presence.

Salisbury District Hospital is open as usual and patients are advised to attend appointments unless told otherwise.

A Public Health England (PHE) spokesman said that, based on the number of casualties affected, “it is not believed that there is a significant health risk to the wider public”. The spokesman added the situation would be “continually assessed”.

The police and crime commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon Angus Macpherson says there is nothing to suggest the incident is “in any way connected to Skripal case at this moment in time”.

Mr Skripal and his daughter both survived being poisoned with a nerve agent in an attack the British government has blamed on Russia.

Moscow has denied any involvement.

Ms Skripal said after being released from hospital: “We are so lucky to have both survived this attempted assassination.

“Our recovery has been slow and extremely painful.”

Her father, who has not yet spoken to the media, was discharged from hospital in May.

The pair each spent weeks in a coma after they were found frothing at the mouth on a bench in Salisbury on 4 March.

(c) Sky News 2018: Counter-terror police investigate Amesbury substance after pair fall ill