On June 30 a man and a woman were found unconscious in the British city of Amesbury, located just several miles away from Salisbury, where four months prior former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found in a similar condition. Different Locations, Same Poison Charlie Rowley, 45, and Dawn Sturgess, 44, were found unconscious on June 30 after falling ill that morning in their house in the town of Amesbury, Wiltshire County. Amesbury is located seven miles (11 km) from the town of Salisbury, where Sergei and Yulia Skripal were allegedly poisoned with an A234 nerve agent roughly four months ago. UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid claimed that all the places the Skripals visited after being exposed to the poison had been decontaminated and "had undergone vigorous testing" prior to being reopened to the public. He also shared that the Amesbury couple didn't go to any of the places visited by the Skripals. READ MORE: Top 3 Facts About Porton Down Lab as Its Chemicals Allegedly Found in Syria Amesbury, as well as Salisbury, is located close to the military's Porton Down laboratory. This facility conducted the analysis in both the Skripal case and the recent poisoning, claiming to have determined that the victims of both attacks were exposed to a Soviet-era Novichok nerve agent, also known as A234. However the lab couldn't say whether the substance that poisoned the Amesbury couple, was from the same batch as the one allegedly used on the Skripals. Apart from running such tests, the highly secretive military lab was historically tasked with working on nerve agents; both developing and finding antidotes to them. More than once the facility's work has led to contamination of the territory with hazardous agents. Different Circumstances, Similar Symptoms The first theory proposed after the Amesbury couple was discovered stated that they had fallen victim to a contaminated batch of drugs, such as heroin or crack. A similar verdict was also issued after the Skripals were found unconscious in Salisbury. Later, after tests at the Porton-Down laboratory, the medical diagnosis was switched to poisoning by the A234 nerve agent. Both Sturgess and Rowley are now undergoing treatment in the same Salisbury hospital, where earlier both Skripals were cured. READ MORE: The Curious Incident of Amesbury Pair Exactly 4 Months After Skripal Case Mooted UK Security Secretary Ben Wallace has claimed that the Amesbury couple was not linked to the Skripal incident and that they were not targeted. He stated that "a contamination by Novichok" had taken place. In the case of the Skripals, the British government suggested that a significant amount of this nerve agent had purportedly been dispensed close to the doorstep of their home. It is still unclear how and where the Amesbury couple was exposed to the A234 nerve agent that caused symptoms similar to the Skripals. "Low Risk to Public" UK Chief Medical Officer Sally Davies told journalists on June 4 that a public health risk "remains low," but still warned citizens to be careful about "unknown or already dangerous objects such as needles and syringes." What UK and Kremlin Officials are Saying UK Secretary for Security Ben Wallace stated that the official investigation will eventually reveal the truth, but still urged Russia to come up with information about the Amesbury poisoning, hinting at Moscow's culpability. British Home Secretary Sajid Javid has demanded that Moscow explain "exactly what has gone on" and slammed the use of chemical weapons as "barbaric and inhumane." READ MORE: UK Minister: Amesbury Poisoning Not Targeted Attack, Not Linked to Skripals On June 5 British Prime Minister Theresa May stated that police will "leave no stone unturned" looking for explanation on how two people on Amesbury were exposed to a Novichok nerve agent. She added that the news of the poisoning is "deeply disturbing." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to the latest statements by reminding the UK that Moscow had suggested back in March to cooperate during the investigation into the Skripal poisoning and that London didn't take up that offer. Peskov noted that news of the Amesbury incident was "disturbing" and said that such events are cause for "deep concern." What Happened in Salisbury in March 2018 Former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned and found unconscious in the British city of Salisbury in March 2018. The UK declared that the substance used in the attack was similar to the Novichok-class of nerve agents developed in the former Soviet Union. UK Prime Minister Theresa May accused Russia of organizing the attack, although the official investigation into the incident is still ongoing. Despite that, the UK went on to expel 23 Russian diplomats as a punitive measure. READ MORE: UK Home Secretary Claims 'Novichok Used' in Amesbury 'Same as in Skripal Case' Russia has denied all the accusations and suggested conducting a joint investigation, as well as demanding consular access to its citizens. However, the request and suggestion have been ignored. In response to the British move Moscow expelled diplomats from those countries that joined London's punitive measure and ordered the British Council to halt its activities in Russia. Yulia and Sergei Skripal regained consciousness in April and were eventually released from the hospital. Their fate remains unknown. Sergei's daughter Yulia has released one public video, asking for privacy after the incident. Since then no further information on them has been forthcoming. The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed skepticism over the statement, pointing out that it sounded like it was translated from English to Russian and thus stage managed by the UK. Several British media outlets suggested that Yulia was in hiding at one of the UK's military bases.<doc-sep>While it was not clear whether a crime had been committed, the force said, a number of places in Amesbury and Salisbury known to have been frequented by the couple had been cordoned off.<doc-sep>Police have sealed off areas of both Salisbury and Amesbury in Wiltshire as two people fight for their lives after being exposed to an "unknown substance". A major incident was declared by Wiltshire Police last night, three days after the couple, both in their 40s, were found unconscious at a flat in Muggleton Road, Amesbury. They remain in a critical condition in Salisbury District Hospital, where earlier this year former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter, Yulia, were treated after being poisoned by military nerve agent novichok at their home in the city. Wiltshire Police said it was "not yet clear if a crime has been committed" in Amesbury but have cordoned off several areas believed to have been visited by the man and woman in the hours before their collapse. They include the the property in Muggleton Road and the area around the Baptist Centre in Amesbury, as well as Queen Elizabeth Gardens and the Town Path close to the Old Mill Pub in Salisbury, eight miles away. The couple had been to a hog roast and family fun day for Amesbury Baptist Church on Raleigh Crescent Green which was attended by around 200 people. A video posted on the church's Facebook page showed people enjoying bouncy castles, games and food stalls. Church secretary Roy Collins said: "We understand this may well be the last event this couple went to in public. They are not church members or regulars. "Nobody else has suffered any ill-effects. There have been no reports of any other incidents. "It was a beautiful, sunny day and it was a glorious event, there was nothing going on that was nefarious. "This is a real surprise and shock to us - we do continue to keep the couple in our prayers. "We are all quite puzzled and shocked - naturally the connection with Salisbury and recent events there mean there is a heightened public interest." Police said it was initially believed the man and woman had fallen ill from using contaminated crack cocaine or heroin. Neighbours saw police, fire engines and people in "green suits" arrive at the flat at around 7pm on Saturday. Residents were told to stay inside their home until about 10pm and their gas and electricity was turned off. "We wanted to know what happened and with the Russian attack happening not long ago, and we just assumed the worst," said college student Chloe Edwards. A decontamination shower was driven 77 miles to the scene from Swindon over fears that a batch of drugs was contaminated by a rogue substance, according to the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service. "It is a standard Haz-mat (hazardous materials) response," said a spokesperson. "We were called in to support the ambulance service as it was feared people could be contaminated." Wiltshire Police said further testing was ongoing to establish the substance that led to the couple becoming ill. "We are keeping an open mind as to the circumstances surrounding this incident," the force said in a statement. "At this stage it is not yet clear if a crime has been committed. A police investigation has been established. In addition, a full multi-agency response has been co-ordinated. "A number of scenes, believed to be the areas the individuals frequented in the period before they fell ill, will be cordoned off overnight in and around the Amesbury and Salisbury area as a precautionary measure." Public Health England said in a statement (PHE) advised that it did not believe there to be a "significant health risk" to the wider public. "The current advice, based upon the number of casualties affected, is that it is not believed that there is a significant health risk to the wider public," said a spokesman. "This will be continually assessed as further information becomes known." Angus Macpherson, police and crime commissioner for Wiltshire, said there was no reason to think it was "in any way connected to the Skripal case at this moment." He told BBC Wiltshire: "I haven't seen anything in this incident yet that I would consider to be an overreaction, it all seems fairly textbook." Amesbury major incident after couple exposed to novichok Show all 40 1 /40 Amesbury major incident after couple exposed to novichok Amesbury major incident after couple exposed to novichok Forensic investigators, wearing protective suits, emerge with bagged evidence from the rear of John Baker House in Salisbury, after it was confirmed that two people living in Amesbury had been poisoned with the nerve-agent Novichok. Reuters Amesbury major incident after couple exposed to novichok Dawn Sturgess, a mother-of-three from Durrington, died after being exposed to novichok Facebook Amesbury major incident after couple exposed to novichok British police are scouring sections of Salisbury and Amesbury in southwest England, searching for a container feared to be contaminated with traces of the deadly nerve agent Novichok. Reuters Amesbury major incident after couple exposed to novichok Officers hope that Charlie Rowley, whose partner Dawn died in hospital, can help them establish how the couple came to be contaminated AFP Amesbury major incident after couple exposed to novichok An investigator in a chemical suit works behind screens erected in Rollestone Street PA Amesbury major incident after couple exposed to novichok Fire and Rescue Service personel arrive with safety equipment at the site of a housing estate on Muggleton Road, after it was confirmed that two people had been poisoned with the nerve-agent novichok, in Amesbury Reuters Amesbury major incident after couple exposed to novichok Forensic investigators at John Baker House Reuters Amesbury major incident after couple exposed to novichok Police and military personnel seized a car from a quiet residential street in Swindon as part of their ongoing investigations into the nerve agent incident in Salisbury and Amesbury SWNS Amesbury major incident after couple exposed to novichok Emergency workers in military protective suits search the fenced off John Baker House AP Amesbury major incident after couple exposed to novichok Reuters Amesbury major incident after couple exposed to novichok Forensic investigators at John Baker House Reuters Amesbury major incident after couple exposed to novichok Emergency services arrive at John Baker House EPA Amesbury major incident after couple exposed to novichok Dorset Fire and Rescue Service at the house PA Amesbury major incident after couple exposed to novichok Tents set up by search teams are seen at the end of Rollestone Street, outside the John Baker House for homeless people in Salisbury. British police are scouring sections of Salisbury and Amesbury in southwest England, searching for a container feared to be contaminated with traces of the deadly nerve agent Novichok.<doc-sep>
British police found a man and a woman, both in their 40s, in critical condition. Police say they may have been exposed to an unknown substance. Police initially thought they were exposed to crack cocaine or heroin from a batch of contaminated drugs. Further testing was ongoing. The two people were found in Amesbury, about seven miles where Russian former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, fell severely ill after being poisoned by nerve agent. British police declared a major incident late on Tuesday after it said a man and a woman in a critical condition may have been exposed to an unknown substance near the southern English town of Salisbury. "Wiltshire Police and partners have this evening declared a major incident after it is suspected that two people might have been exposed to an unknown substance in Amesbury," the police said in a statement. "Emergency services were called to an address in Muggleton Road, Amesbury on Saturday evening (June 30) after a man and woman, both in their 40s, were found unconscious in a property," the police said. Amesbury lies seven miles (11 kms) to the north of Salisbury, where in March Russian former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, fell severely ill after being poisoned by nerve agent. Police on Wednesday said sites that it believed the man and woman found in Amesbury had frequented in both Amesbury and Salisbury would be cordoned off overnight as a precaution. It was initially thought the man and woman had possibly used crack cocaine or heroin from a batch of contaminated drugs, police said, adding that further testing was ongoing. A Public Health England (PHE) spokesman said: "The current advice from PHE England, based upon the number of casualties affected, is that it is not believed that there is a significant health risk to the wider public. This will be continually assessed as further information becomes known." The man and woman were being treated at Salisbury District Hospital, which remains open as usual, police said. (Reporting by Andy Bruce in London and Abinaya Vijayaraghavan in Bengaluru; Editing by Leslie Adler and Stephen Coates)