By Eric King-
Police have launched a murder inquiry following the death of a woman exposed to the nerve agent Novichok in Wiltshire died.
44 old Dawn Sturgess died in hospital on Sunday evening after falling ill on 30 June.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was “deeply concerned” about the incident – but said accusations that it was involved are “absurd”.
The UK government has previously blamed Russia for the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with Novichok in Salisbury in March. Russian authorities denied any involvement in the poisoning.
Theresa May said she was “appalled and shocked” by the death of mother of three Ms Sturgess, from Durrington.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid will chair a meeting of the government’s emergency committee Cobra later today.
A post-mortem examination of Ms Sturgess is due to take place and her family has been informed, police said.
The investigation is being led by detectives from the Counter-Terrorism Policing Network and about 100 detectives are working on the case alongside Wiltshire Police.
Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, the head of UK Counter-Terrorism policing, said: “This is shocking and tragic news. Dawn leaves behind her family, including three children, and our thoughts and prayers are with them at this extremely difficult time.
“The 45-year-old man who fell ill with Dawn remains critically ill in hospital and our thoughts are with him and his family as well.”
Pic Credits: news.sky.com