Panic struck Durrington on Friday afternoon, 28 March, after a man became ill following contact with an unknown substance on Charles Road. The incident triggered a substantial emergency response reminiscent of the Salisbury poisonings.
Wiltshire & Bath Air Ambulance, local paramedics, and three specialist Hazardous Area Response Teams from Bristol were quickly dispatched to the scene. Approximately ten fire engines from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue also attended. Bomb disposal squads and around ten police officers were deployed to assess any chemical threats.
Emergency vehicles gathered near Durrington C of E VC Junior School as experts worked to identify the substance involved.
By Saturday morning, Wiltshire Police confirmed that no nerve agent or hazardous chemical had been detected. The cordons set up around the area were lifted in the early hours. The man affected was treated at the scene and did not require hospital admission.
Chief Inspector Graham McLaughlin stated: “We appreciate the concern this incident has had in the community given the recent history, and please be assured the report was taken extremely seriously. Testing has been found to be negative, and as a result, the response and cordon have been lifted.”
He also expressed gratitude to the specialist teams from outside the county, as well as the Fire and Ambulance services, for their swift and professional response. The patience of local residents during the investigation was also commended.
Residents expressed relief after fears of a Novichok poisoning were proven unfounded. The shadow of the Salisbury poisonings remains a significant concern, making any suspicious incident in the area a cause for alarm.
Authorities have thanked the public for their cooperation and assured that the situation is fully resolved. They have promised to provide further updates should new information arise.
Originally published by UKNIP.
