Police have declared a major incident at a hospital after two people were left fighting for their lives following exposure to an “unknown substance”.
The pair – a man and a woman – were being treated at Salisbury District Hospital in Wiltshire, after an incident at The Maltings in the town at about 4pm on Sunday.
Police could not confirm whether the patients had been exposed to fentanyl, a dangerous heroin substitute.
The hospital confirmed it had declared a major incident, but advised patients to attend appointments as normal unless advised otherwise.
Wiltshire Police said: "At this stage it is not yet clear if a crime has been committed and a multi-agency response has been co-ordinated.
"Police are carrying out a full investigation and working with partner agencies, to clarify the exact circumstances.
"At this stage, Wiltshire Police does not believe there is any risk to the wider public."
The force said a number of areas in Salisbury had been cordoned off in relation to their investigation.
A spokesman for Public Health England (PHE) said anyone exposed to the unknown substance had been decontaminated "as is standard practice in situations like this".
He added: "Scientists from PHE's Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, will continue to assist the response and review information as it becomes available."
