Amesbury incident: Charlie Rowley and Dawn Sturgess fighting for life in Wiltshire
Charlie Rowley, 45, and Dawn Sturgess, 44, are being treated in hospital after being found unconscious on Saturday. The town is located just eight miles from Salisbury, where ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with a nerve agent in March. Counter-terrorism officials have launched a major investigation into this week's incident. The Government's emergency Cobra committee held a meeting earlier today to discuss the events.
A Downing Street spokesman said: "This is an incident which understandably is being treated with the utmost seriousness. "Ministers and the Prime Minister are being kept updated and there was a meeting this morning of officials to receive updates on the facts of the situation." Tests are being carried out on the substance at the Government chemical weapons research laboratory at Porton Down. Mr Rowley and Ms Sturgess are in a critical condition in Salisbury District Hospital. One of the last places they were seen in public was a family fun day at Amesbury Baptist Centre on Saturday.
SWNS Amesbury incident: Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley are fighting for their lives
We are all quite puzzled and shocked Roy Collins
The church is one of a number of locations in Amesbury and Salisbury which has been cordoned off by police. Church secretary Roy Collins said: "We are all quite puzzled and shocked. "Naturally the connection with Salisbury and recent events there mean there is a heightened public interest. "We are praying for the couple. One of our members knows them and clearly there are concerns for them and any others in the community. "They are not church members or regulars."
PA Amesbury incident: Counter-terrorism officials have launched a major investigation