Ben Wallace
Britain's security minister called on Russia to give details about the Novichok nerve agent attack on a former double agent and his daughter after two British citizens were poisoned with the same substance.
The two Britons are critically ill after what is thought to be a chance encounter with the poison after the March attack on former Russian agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury in March.
Britain has accused Russia of the poisoning of the Skripals, a charge Russia has repeatedly denied.
"The Russian state could put this 'wrong' right, they could tell us what happened, what they did and fill in some of the significant gaps that we are trying to pursue," Security Minister Ben Wallace told BBC radio on Thursday.
"They (Russia) are the ones who could fill in all the clues to keep people safe."
A British couple whose possible poisoning is being investigated by counter-terrorism police are showing "very similar" symptoms to those suffered by Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, the Sun newspaper reported on Wednesday."Doctors have determined that the pair have been poisoned by toxins and are showing very similar ... symptoms to the former Russian military intelligence colonel and his daughter," the newspaper said.British police said on Wednesday they suspected the two people who were found in a critical condition near the English city where the Skripals were poisoned earlier this year may have been exposed to an unknown substance.British police say unknown substance leaves two people critically ill near Salisbury
UK couple near Salisbury showing similar symptoms to Skripals
British police declared a major incident after finding a man and a woman in a critical condition who may have been exposed to an unknown substance near the southern English town of Salisbury.Video: UK police declare major incident as two people fall ill near SalisburyPolice in Wiltshire, where former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with a nerve agent in March, said a man and a woman were found unconscious on Saturday in Amesbury."Wiltshire Police and partners have this evening declared a major incident after it is suspected that two people might have been exposed to an unknown substance in Amesbury," police said late on Tuesday.The pair, both in their 40s, were initially believed to have taken heroin or crack cocaine from a contaminated batch of drugs. They are being treated at Salisbury District Hospital, which remains open as usual, police said.No UK ministers will be resigning over Brexit policyUS presses UK to increase defense spendingNo UK ministers will be resigning over Brexit policy"However, further testing is now ongoing to establish the substance which led to these patients becoming ill and we are keeping an open mind as to the circumstances surrounding this incident," police said."At this stage it is not yet clear if a crime has been committed. A police investigation has been established. In addition, a full multi-agency response has been co-ordinated."Amesbury lies seven miles (11 kms) to the north of Salisbury, where the Skripals were found slumped unconscious on a bench on March 4.Police said sites in both Amesbury and Salisbury that they believed the man and woman found in Amesbury had frequented would be cordoned off as a precaution.A Public Health England (PHE) spokesman said there was not a significant risk to the wider public.
British police say unknown substance leaves two people critically ill near Salisbury