The UK police reported two people in a critical condition near the English city Amesbury, exactly four months after the case of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal unraveled in the neighboring Salisbury.
The pair are now in hospital receiving treatment for "suspected exposure to an unknown substance," Wiltshire Police said in a statement. Amesbury lies seven miles (11 kms) to the north of Salisbury and about the same distance to the Porton Down science and technology laboratory operated by the Ministry of Defense.
We've declared a major incident after it is suspected that two people might have been exposed to an unknown substance in Amesbury. Full details here: https://t.co/yaaUqH97Te pic.twitter.com/xryG8Cy7nV
— Wiltshire Police (@wiltshirepolice) July 4, 2018
The Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down, established in 1916, is known as one of the most secretive military research facilities in the country.
READ MORE: Top 3 Facts About Porton Down Lab as Its Chemicals Allegedly Found in Syria
Have the BBC wheeled out Hamish de Bretton-Gordon yet to tell us that the Russians must be behind it?
— Barden Gridge (@BardenGridge) July 4, 2018
If any media organisation decides to inflict HdBG's opinions on us, bear in mind his involvement with #PortonDown and his activities in #Syria:https://t.co/XUwgMSKGlg
Isn't Boscombe Down where the Army trains Apache helicopter pilots?
— Steve Freeman (@stevefreeman20) July 4, 2018
of course russia again.. they have a dastardly plan to poison everyone in Wiltshire and then rule the world from there… https://t.co/Tx4891m9ri
— tony_revsoc99 (@revsoc99) July 4, 2018
Have we any idea just how much taxpayers money was spent weaving this fairy story?
— Northwich Guardians (@GuardiNorthwich) July 4, 2018
Close down Porton Down, too much dangerous stuff leaking out of that facility.
— Hari SP (@Hari_Nuranian) July 4, 2018
— ☁️ (@Dank_Klouds) July 4, 2018
The two people are treated at Salisbury District Hospital, the same hospital where Sergei Skripal and his daughter spent weeks in recovery.
READ MORE: 2 Hospitalized After Exposure to 'Unknown Substance' in UK's Amesbury — Police
Samples from the unknown substance the pair have been allegedly exposed to have now been reportedly sent to the Porton Down laboratory for investigation.
"As you would expect, given the recent events in Salisbury, officers from the counter terrorism network are working jointly with colleagues from Wiltshire Police regarding the incident in Amesbury. As Wiltshire Police have stated, they are keeping an open mind as to the circumstances surrounding the incident and will update the public as soon and as regularly as possible," the Metropolitan police said on July 4.
