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On Wednesday evening, British authorities announced that a couple had been exposed to the "same innervating agent" as the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.
Fear of the City, Act 2. Four month after the poisoning of a former Russian spy and her daughter in Salisury (United Kingdom), a British couple was hospitalized on Saturday, July 1, after being found in critical condition in a nearby village. On Wednesday evening, the authorities announced that the man and the woman had been exposed to "same innervating agent" as Sergei and Yulia Skripal: the Novitchok. Here at this stage of the investigation is an update on the case
What is Known
• The Identity of the Victims The two people found in a home in Amesbury have been identified as Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley. The woman, a 44-year-old mother, first lost consciousness in the morning with "foam coming out of her mouth" according to a friend, Sam Hobson. Then his 45-year-old companion fell ill, "sweating profusely" "making funny noises and swaying back and forth without answering" and rescues were again called in the afternoon. They have since been hospitalized "in critical condition" at Salisbury Hospital.
• The last places frequented by the victims. Their friend, cited by The Guardian claims to have spent the evening of Friday in a park in Salisbury and various businesses, including a liquor store and a shop where they bought products to dye their hair in the colors of the England football team. After the couple slept at Charlie Rowley's home in Amesbury, the friend joined her on Saturday morning, when the woman was being rescued. The two men then went to a pharmacy and then to the Amesbury Baptist Church, which organized a grilled pig.
• The type of poison used. The head of British counter-terrorism said on Wednesday that the victims had been "exposed to Novitchok's innervating agent" one of the most poisonous poisons in the world, already used against former Russian agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia
• The system put in place. Security cords were put in place in at least five places where the two forty-year-olds would have been: Charlie Rowley's home, the church, the park, the pharmacy and the shelter where Dawn Sturgess lived. Although there was "no immediate risk to health" the health authorities advised "as a precaution" to persons having visited the same places as the victims between Friday evening and Saturday afternoon to wash their clothes
What is still unknown
• The place of poisoning If the couple was found at Charlie Rowley in Amesbury, there is no indication that the contamination occurred there. In March, Sergei and Yulia Skripal were found on a bench in Salisbury's city center, but the authorities believe they came into contact with the innervating officer at the ex-spy's home.
• The reasons for poisoning According to British counterterrorism, there is "no evidence" suggesting that both the unemployed man and woman and the former homeless "were targeted by in any way ". The Sun argues that they could have fallen on the syringe or container that had been used against the Skripal. Charlie Rowley "consumes drugs" according to Sam Hobson, but Dawn Sturgess "do not take drugs" . The authorities specify that "nothing indicates" that the couple "recently visited one of the decontaminated sites after the attempted murder targeting Sergei and Yulia Skripal" . 19659006] • Possible links with the Skripal. At present, no friendly, professional or other connection has been established between the March and July victims. The investigators are interested in possible common points, starting with the type of Novitchok used. "It will be up to the scientists to determine if it comes from the same lot" as the one used in March, claimed the patron of British counterterrorism.
• The role of Russia. Pointed out after the attack on the former Russian spy and her daughter, Moscow has always denied being involved. On Thursday morning, the British government called on the Russian authorities "to say what happened, what they did". Saying that he had no information, the Kremlin reacted by saying "very concerned" by "the repeated use of such substances in Europe" .
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