Media legend Police search John Baker's home where the victim lives Dawn Sturgess
The police operation in The poisoning of a couple with a neurotoxic agent in Salisbury "The police believed that Charlie Rowley, 45, and Dawn Sturgess, 44, had been exposed to Novichok after handling an unknown object. [19659004] The pair remains in critical condition at the hospital one week after falling ill.
Their symptoms were the same as those of the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, poisoned in
19659008] Yui Mok / PA Wire
Image Caption
Police cordoned off several areas, including Rollestone Street in Salisbury,
Police in hazmat costume spent Friday searching for John Baker House in Salisbury, the hostel where Mrs. Sturgess lives.
Officers also watch over 1300 hours of CCTV to identify when the couple has been in contact with the nerve agent
Police said that the "unique challenges" surrounding the operation meant that "The police activity should take weeks and months"
Novichok can be degraded by rainwater and sunlight. According to the government, the poisoning of the Skripals, who have both left the hospital, has been entrusted to the Russian authorities, which Russia denies.
Interior Minister Sajid Javid called Russia explains "exactly what happened" after another deputy, Conservative Tom Tugendhat, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee , said the latest incident was the result of a "war crime" and a "vile act of terror". Russia
Russia – who denies being involved in one or the other incident – said that the UK was trying to "muddy the waters" and "intimidate its own citizens" . "
By Frank Gardner, BBC Correspondent
Image copyright Facebook
Image Caption
Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley became ill on Saturday in Amesbury, Wiltshire.
The Amesbury inquiry has entered a new phase.
Scientists and chemical weapons experts at Porton Down in Wiltshire prepare for an influx of innumerable objects requiring forensic badysis.
The investigators, led by Met Police anti-terrorist detectives, work on the basis that the couple – now seriously ill from Novichok's poisoning – manipulated a contaminated object that caught their eye.
They need to find it.
The object – or perhaps objects – are considered something found and touched by the pair, perhaps something as harmless as a bottle of perfume or d & # 39; 39; other luxury toiletries.
The search for this "source object" is likely to be long, laborious and could last all summer.
Who are the victims?
Reading the media is not supported on your device
Media legend ] A video shows Mrs. Sturgess in Salisbury a few days before her collapse
Ms. Sturgess is a mother of three who lives at the Salisbury Inn, which offers supportive accommodations.
A close friend of Mrs. Sturgess, who also lived at John Baker House, described her as "a loving and caring person."
Matthew, Mr. Rowley's brother, told the BBC: "This is a lovely man."
Media playback is not supported on your device
Caption Charlie Rowley's brother, Matthew, describes how he discovered what had happened
What happened to them? Saturday, paramedics were called two time in a Muggleton Road apartment in Amesbury – the first at 11:00 BST after the collapse of Mrs. Sturgess.
Doctors returned a few hours later, after Mr. Rowley also fell ill [19659004] couple, Sam Hobson, said after Ms. Sturgess was rushed to the hospital, he and Mr. Rowley went to a chemist in Amesbury to collect a prescription before going to an event at a church Baptist nearby.
planned to visit the hospital, but Mr. Rowley "has like Born to feel "Hobson, 29, said:" He was swinging against the wall and his eyes were red, pinned, and he began to sweat and dribble, so I had to call an ambulance for him. ", said Mr. Hobson
Reading the media is not supported on your device
Media legend Sam Hobson, a friend of one of the victims of poisoning from Amesbury, describes the symptoms that he saw
Based on information from a friend and items found in the apartment, Wiltshire Police initially thought that the pair had fallen ill after using a contaminated batch of heroin or crack.
But after testing at the government's military research facility in Porton Down, a major incident was declared and it was confirmed that they had been exposed to Novichok.
What is the police investigating?
The police do not believe that Mr. Rowley and Ms. Sturgess were victims of a targeted attack, but came into contact with the substance at Amesbury or Salisbury
They said that the pair was both at John Baker House at lunchtime on June 29, before visiting a number of shops in Salisbury and visiting the Queen Elizabeth Gardens.
Around 16:20, before arriving at Amesbury by bus around 22:30
Image caption
Friday at noon, there was an increased police presence in Muggleton Road – where the couple went was found – with fire trucks. badist
Police believe that they were there until emergency services were called on Saturday.
Five areas were cordoned off: Muggleton Road, Boots Pharmacy, and Amesbury Baptist Church; John Baker House and the gardens of Queen Elizabeth in Salisbury
M. Javid said the "strong working hypothesis" was that the pair had come into contact with Novichok in a place that had not been cleaned up after Skripal's poisoning. Special Operations Neil Basu said that "about 100 detectives" of the Counter Terrorism Policing Network were working on the investigation.
Are you in the area? Do you have any information to share? Email [email protected].
