Pair poisoned by the same agent as Russian spy

Two people found unconscious in Wiltshire were poisoned with the same nerve agent as a former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, police say.

The man and woman are in a critical condition in hospital

The peer, believed to be Charlie Rowley, 45, and Dawn Sturgess, 44, were found unconscious at a house in Amesbury, Wiltshire, on Saturday.

Amesbury is about eight miles from the Salisbury Russian spy poisoning site and they have been exposed to Novichok, the same nerve agent was used to poison Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia in March

There was "nothing in their background" to suggest the pair were targeted, said police.

The counter-terrorism network is now leading the investigation.

19659006] The government's emergency committee, Cobra, has put in the Cabinet Office at Amesbury, which is being "treated with the utmost seriousness."

Wiltshire Police "given the re Salisbury's cent events. "

Wiltshire Police earlier said it was" open-minded "about the cause after the peer, who are British nationals, were found in Muggleton Road, Amesbury.

Paramedics were called twice Mr Rowley had also fallen unwell. in Amesbury and Salisbury

Amesbury and Salisbury

"It was initially believed that the two patients fell ill after using possibly heroin gold cocaine from a contaminated batch of drugs, "Wiltshire Police said.

" They are both currently receiving treatment for an exposure to an unknown substance at Salisbury District Hospital, "he added.

Mr Rowley and Ms Sturgess are believed to be attended a family fun day at Amesbury Baptist Church on Saturday afternoon before they were found unconscious in the property they had just moved into.

Roy Collins, church secretary, said "no one else had any ill-effects" from attending the community event and "there was nothing going on that was nefarious".

"There are been no reports of any other incidents," he said.

"We are all quite puzzled and shocked – naturally the connection with Salisb "

Boots has closed its doors Amesbury store as" a precautionary measure "to allow police to carry out an investigation, a spokesperson confirmed.

Wiltshire and Dorset Fire Rescue Service Muggleton Road on Saturday evening.

Crews in Hazmat suits, which are worn to deal with dangerous or hazardous substances, were sent to the scene procedure response. "

Chloe Edwards, a 17-year-old college student who lives near the cordoned-off flat, said she was having dinner when" all these emergency vehicles turned up "and was told to stay inside. [19659006] "They were putting on these green suits and we thought it was going to be the case," she said.

"We wanted to know what happened with the Russian attack. assumed the worst. 9659006] "I am not sure how long they were in there but we did not get out of the house for two-and-a-half hours."

Resident Jake Murphy said he was watching the football on Tuesday night when "

" I did not know what was happening, "he said.

Justin Doughty, who lives opposite the cordon police, said none of the residents font. "

" A government source said: "Senior Whitehall officials are being kept informed of what is going on on the ground. (19659006) Wiltshire's Police and Crime Commissar Angus Macpherson said the police had worked hard at "containing any risk that might be there"

"There's no reason to think it's connected with matters of last month," he said.

"

Public Health England said it was a" significant health risk " "

The hospital was" open as usual "and advised patients to wait for routine appointments and contact

– BBC