"Due to recent events in the city and concerns that the pair had been exposed to an unknown substance, a highly precautionary approach was taken by all emergency services," police said in a statement. Wiltshire police declared a "major incident" on Sunday evening after it came to light that a man and woman had become unwell at a Prezzo restaurant, six months after a former Russian spy, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter Julia became the victims of Novichok poisoning in the same city. Image: Police say the incident is not believed to be linked to novichok

The same nerve agent was used to target former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, who were found unresponsive on a bench in Salisbury after eating at a Zizzi restaurant about 0.2 miles from Prezzo. "A nice meal in Prezzo turns into a major incident as 2 Russians sitting next to us take seriously ill and the whole area is closed.... we are being taken to a safe place and may need blood tests at Salisbury hospital.....

"Will keep everyone updated ..... A witness, Sam Proudfoot, 16, tweeted a video of emergency services gathered at the scene:

Sam Proudfoot (@samproudy01) Trouble in Salisbury again on New Street near the cathedral, no sign of what’s happened but there’s 1 fire engine, 1 ambulance and 4 police cars, a man in a full white body suit with a mouth-mask and police not allowed to tell us what’s happening @BBCNews @SpireFM @SkyNews pic.twitter.com/3XpNVkH9or

On Facebook a woman called Amanda Newton said she had been at the restaurant and claimed she had been sitting next to the pair who had fallen ill. She wrote: “We are being taken to a safe place and may need blood tests at Salisbury hospital ... will keep everyone updated ... I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

The BBC said it had been told by someone in Prezzo that the scene was “like armageddon”. The police are yet to reveal the identities and nationalities of the people who fell ill. Amanda Worne said on Twitter: "Feeling a little apprehensive as Salisbury leaps to action again when 2 Russians are taken ill in Prezzos showing the same symptoms as before ..... AND WE WERE SITTING NEXT TO THEM!" Sam Proudfoot posted on Twitter : "Trouble in Salisbury again on New Street near the cathedral, no sign of what's happened but there's 1 fire engine, 1 ambulance and 4 police cars, a man in a full white body suit with a mouth-mask and police not allowed to tell us what's happening." Wiltshire Police said it received a call from the ambulance service at about 6.45pm following reports that a man and a woman had fallen ill.

"Both were taken to Salisbury District Hospital and were clinically assessed," a force spokeswoman said. “As a precautionary measure, the restaurant and surrounding roads have been cordoned off while officers attend the scene and establish the circumstances surrounding what has led them to fall ill. “Anyone with information should call 101 and quote log number 271 of 16 September.”

Britain has said Russian officers used the nerve agent Novichok to attack the Skripals, but yhe Kremlin has denied any involvement. The pair, who have not been identified, are conscious and being treated at the scene by medics, a spokeswoman for South Western Ambulance Service said.
A man and a woman are taken ill after a medical incident in Salisbury, United Kingdom. Police seal off a restaurant as a precautionary measure. According to The Guardian, tensions are high due to recent Novichok poisonings. According to the BBC, "there's no suggestion that this is connected". According to Sky News, at least one of the individuals who fell ill is a Russian.