Novichok yet again in Wiltshire!

I think this is a very strange business and we're not getting the full story.

Reports had already stated that there was still a lot of CCTV footage to be seen but despite this the media were coming up with different reports and theories as to where the Novichok was found, how this unfortunate couple came into contact with it, etc. etc.

One report I read said that initially it was thought that the couple had taken contaminated drugs but it wasn't until later that their symptoms gave rise to concerns that a nerve agent was involved, which Porton Down later confirmed. Perhaps I have misunderstood, but I am pretty sure a report I read said that the female victim was stretchered out of the property by medics who were in protective gear. Why were they in protective suits if at that point it was felt she was ill because of contaminated drugs? The man didn't fall ill until later,which seems odd, as is the fact that his friend was apparently not affected.

If a rogue element at Porton Down, which is very close by, was responsible for this I don't suppose the powers that be would be keen on releasing such information.

The policeman has been released from hospital.

Eloathan, I do not think this attack has anything to do with Porton Down, but this is the seed of doubt that Putin and his mates would like to sow in our minds.

A rogue element? one thinks of The Cambridge Five

Now that is a scary thought anniebach.

It is Iam, very scary

Eloathan, I do not think this attack has anything to do with Porton Down, but this is the seed of doubt that Putin and his mates would like to sow in our minds.
I agree M0nica

There has been a lot of speculation about this, the logic of some of which eludes me.

The first attack was in Salisbury because the target, a Russian double agent, lived in that area.
The second incident is in the same area, one would presume logically, because that is where the remains of the first attack have been disposed of.

Whether the first attack was by Russian or by a rogue agent/terrorist who has (frighteningly) managed to get hold of a supply of Novichok, is yet to be established.

Sorry, should have said 'Russia' not Russian in the last paragraph.

Only the Russians had any interest in wanting the Russian agent and his daughter to die, in a horrible way (shooting was never going to be enough for them.)
Any ‘rogue’ element anywhere would have had no interest in the Skripals.
It’s either the Russians ( twice) for the reason that Monica has given, or the Russians the first time, and simply bad luck the second time, from a discarded item.

That is probably right lemongrove - and entirely logical in fact.
Unless, of course, it is a rogue agent/terrorist wanting the Russian state to be blamed which is possible but not probable.

It would be very tortuous and improbable for someone to go to all that trouble so as to frame the Russians for it. There would be a great danger to the agent - they would have to be incredible dedicated to take the risk of getting contact with the stuff themselves). I really cannot imagine anyone being altruistic enough to endanger their lives in that cause.

However, thinking of the deviousness of the Russian secret service, I could imagine Putin using his leverage to have someone take that risk to punish an apostate agent and remove him, then using the incident to claim that Britain was using the kind of tactics that he would have employed, to smear the "innocent" Russians.

I've just heard on the news, that Dawn Sturgess, the woman involved in this incident has died.
It's so very sad for DS and her family.
This second incident of poisoning must be causing some anxiety in people living Salisbury . The Home Secretary visited today I suppose in solidarity and also to try and demonstrate the low level of risk.

What I find worrying is the fact that the authorities have still been unable to locate and secure the container.

Let's hope that as it is approaching school holiday time here in UK that it is not inadvertently discovered and or touched by a child or young adult.

My thoughts are with Dawns friends and family at this very sad time.

That is a very worrying thought GG

I think it quite possible their will be a third case of poisoning, but not until after the anniversary of the Skripal poisoning, say this time next year, just to underline the suggestion that it just might be something to do with Porton Down.

It is very sad indeed; she has three children and the youngest is only 11.
Very shocking and everyone in that area must be concerned; others are being sent for testing apparently - it appears she and her partner travelled by bus. It was reported that the Novichok was on their hands.

Has any of our security agencies investigated the possibility that Novichok might somehow have got into the hands of a terrorist group or an individual with an agenda or a grudge?

This second poisoning is either accidental and a result of an inadequate clean-up operation from the first incident or a deliberate second attack. I hope, very much, that it’s the first.

I did wonder that OldMeg, which is an even more frightening prospect.

As the clean-up from the first (deliberate) poisoning was so comprehensive and so thorough, it would seem possible that either the chemical was disposed of well outside the area investigated previously or that someone disposed of it at a later date.

I would have thought the previous scenario because I would presume that whoever the perpetrator was, he or she would have been well away from the crime scene and had perhaps left the country fairly promptly.

I am sure that the security agencies are investigating every possibility.

And of course they would keep the public informed at all times Jalima!! ?

yes, like they did with Chernobyl!

Police say Novichok that poisoned couple in Amesbury, Wiltshire, came from small bottle found in one victim's house

Just seen on BBC news feed.
Curioser and curioser

Did they find it and think it was something else - was it in a bottle which had a label (obviously the label would not say 'Novichok'.

Pleased that the source has been found, hopefully this should prevent any more poisoning.