Anti-Terrorism Police Join Wiltshire Investigation on Possible Poisoning | Kingdom News

Anti-terrorism officers joined the investigation into what caused the illness of two people in Wiltshire.

A man and a woman, both in their forties, were in critical condition at Salisbury District Hospital. Wednesday

A spokesman for the Scotland Yard Anti-Terrorist Command said, "As might be expected, in Salisbury, anti-terrorist network officers are working jointly with colleagues from the Wiltshire police on Incident of Amesbury. As the Wiltshire police said, they keep an open mind about the circumstances surrounding the incident and will update the public as quickly and as regularly as possible.

Counterterrorism officers will have more expertise in issues related to nerve agents and other military-grade weapons, as well as the security clearances needed to work with intelligence agencies.

A government source did not downplay the potential gravity of the incident, saying it was a matter of concern. monitored.

A number of sites in the Amesbury and Salisbury area were cordoned off as a precaution, although the force indicated that it was not yet clear whether the pair was victims of a crime. Tests were in progress to establish the substance that had made them sick.

Neighbors said they believed the two sick people had attended a roast pork organized by the Amesbury Baptist Church. They were told not to be regular practitioners. The Baptist Church has been cordoned off.

The Queen Elizabeth Gardens in Salisbury, which includes a children's play area and an adjacent car park, were also cordoned off, with police officers guarding the area. The Harcourt Medical Center, a nearby medical center, was closed to the public Wednesday morning, although it reopened later. The police readjusted the cordon at the perimeter of the gardens

It was not confirmed that the sites were related to the incident in Amesbury.

Public Health England (PHE) said that he did not believe that there was an incident occurs exactly four months after the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter , Yulia, were poisoned by an alleged neurotoxic agent in Salisbury, about eight years later. miles from Amesbury. However, sources close to the investigation warned of links with the Skripal case.

Police said that the man and woman were found unconscious at an address on Muggleton Road on Saturday night. other tests were in progress. The address is supposed to be on a new subdivision at the southern edge of town, which is close to Stonehenge.

A police officer was posted outside one of the properties on Wednesday morning, but no cordon was in place.

Amesbury Mayor Margaret Strange visited the address to speak to the police. She said that she had not been told what had happened, but she added, "Obviously, it's worrying when something like this happens on your doorstep."

Neighbors expressed concern at the incident. Amy Ireland, 32, said the area was filled with firefighters, police and paramedics on Saturday. "We were coming back from my 10-year-old son's football presentation, there was a lot of excitement, some cords were put in place and people were pushed back," she said.

"People thought it was a gas leak at the beginning.Now we do not know what to think.It is very disturbing.My son is playing here on the green.Sixbury Premier, now this. "

Another neighbor, Jake Murphy, said that he had moved to Amesbury from Salisbury for quiet life. "And then it happens, there are all kinds of rumors circulating that this has to do with the Russians."

A police statement said, "The police and Wiltshire partners have declared this a major incident after suspecting that two people may have been exposed to an unknown substance in Amesbury 19659020] "Emergency services were called to an address at Muggleton Road, Amesbury, Saturday night [30 June] after A man and a woman, both in their forties, were found unconscious in a property. They are currently both being treated for suspicion of exposure to an unknown substance at Salisbury District Hospital. They are both in critical condition.

"It was initially believed that both patients became ill after using heroin or crack in a batch of contaminated drugs, however, further tests are under way to establish the substance that has leads to illness and we keep an open mind about the circumstances surrounding this incident. "

A number of sites that we believed to be areas frequented by men and women before they get sick have been curly during the night. There was no cord at Amesbury's Ambulance

A branch of Boots' pharmacy in Amesbury was also closed and guarded by the police.

Meanwhile, the police presence in Amesbury and Salisbury increased. The Salisbury District Hospital was functioning normally and officials advised people to attend routine appointments unless they were contacted to do otherwise.

A spokesman for PHE said, "The current PHE England council is based on the number of casualties, and there is a significant risk to the health of the general public. that further information will be known. "

Sergei and Yulia Skripal spent weeks at the Salisbury District Hospital where they were treated for alleged exposure to the Novichok neurogenic agent. The British government accused Moscow of being behind the attack.

The Press Association contributed to this report