Police in southwest England say two people are in critical condition and are being treated “for suspected exposure to an unknown substance.” One of the victims is a former Russian spy, according to a source familiar with the investigation.
Sergei Skripal, 66, was granted refuge in the UK following a “spy swap” between the US and Russia in 2010, according to the source.
At a press conference Monday night, Wiltshire police said two people — a man in his 60s and a woman in her 30s — had been found unconscious on a bench at a shopping center in Salisbury. The pair were known to one another.
They are currently being treated at the Salisbury District Hospital’s intensive care unit, where their condition remains critical.
Neither of the individuals involved has been named by the UK Home Office, Wiltshire Police or Salisbury Hospital.
Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Craig Holden said that police are retaining an open mind on what caused the injuries and are working with partners to prioritize the couple’s diagnosis.
Holden said that the incident is not being treated as a terrorism incident and urged people not to speculate. He said that police do not believe that there is any risk to the wider public, emphasizing that police will “continue to retain an open mind and will continue to review this position.”
Developing story…more to come