Guernseyman happens upon 'Russian spy' crime scene

Wednesday 07 March 2018

Martin Gavet was in Salisbury on Tuesday morning when he saw a number of police officers and a tented area.

Currently sightseeing around the UK with his fiancé, Salisbury was just one stop off on their journey and at the time of their visit they had no idea why the area was cordoned off

Former spy Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, are critically ill in hospital after being found unconscious on a shopping centre bench in the Wiltshire town. They are currently in Salisbury District Hospital where they are being treated for “suspected exposure” to an “unknown substance", as previously reported by Express. 

Mr Gavet was walking around the city and said: "We were only there for the morning visiting the cathedral and we just wondered why the area was cordoned off and then we went to Cafe Nero, walked in the door and saw it on front page of the Times newspaper."

Pictured: Tent to the left and police and media

Pictured: Media from around the world quickly gathered in Salisbury 

Express asked Mr Gavet if there were any warnings about chemicals as it appeared people could get relatively close to the crime scene. Mr Gavet said: "There were no warnings about that. They have closed off a pub and cordoned of an area near the Old Mill."

Asked if there was any concerns about contamination Mr Gavet said: "I guess they have had people in to check. The whole area is swarming with TV cameras."

Main picture: The crime scene with tent in background where the Russian spy and his daughter was found on a bench taken by Mr Gavet