The UK woman who was exposed to the nerve agent Novichok last week has died in hospital, with the Metropolitan Police confirming they are now launching a murder inquiry.
The woman, identified by police as Dawn Sturgess, 44, from Durrington was thought to have handled a "contaminated item" at Salisbury on 29 June before falling ill.
A 45-year-old man, Charlie Rowley, who also fell ill remains in a critical condition.
Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley, were found unconscious after being poisoned with Novichok. Ms Sturgess has since died in hospital. Source: Facebook
Police said Ms Sturgess' family had been notified and were receiving support.
"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," Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, the head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing said.
"This terrible news has only served to strengthen our resolve to identify and bring to justice the person or persons responsible for what I can only describe as an outrageous, reckless and barbaric act.
"Detectives will continue with their painstaking and meticulous work to gather all the available evidence so that we can understand how two citizens came to be exposed with such a deadly substance that tragically cost Dawn her life."
Police in HAZMAT suits as they investigate the poisoning of two people in Salisbury. Source: Press Association
The investigation is being led by detectives from the Counter Terrorism Policing Network and about 100 detectives are working round the clock, he said.
Testing conducted by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory last week confirmed the pair had been exposed to Novichok, which was manufactured in the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
The nerve agent was used in the March attack on an ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, with authorities believing Ms Sturgess and her partner Charley Rowley may have been affected by secondary exposure.
Skripal was a Russian military intelligence officer, turned double agent for the UK.
He was released from hospital in May, while his daughter spent 20 days in a coma before being released.
Police said the investigation "into the attempted murders of the Skripals is ongoing as detectives continue to assess all the evidence available".
Britain's Home Secretary Sajid Javid visited the areas in southwestern England over the weekend to reassure residents the risk to the public was low.
However, several sites remain closed off as police continue to investigate.
Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned in March 2018. Source: AAP
Prime Minister Theresa May said police were still hard at work investigating the source of the nerve agent.
"I am appalled and shocked by the death of Dawn Sturgess, and my thoughts and condolences go to her family and loved ones."
No-one else has presented with the same symptoms linked to this incident.
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