Novichok HOAX: Man arrested after bottles discovered at Welsh castle
A suspected "novichok" hoaxer has been arrested after bottles of an unknown substance were found FIVE TIMES at a Welsh castle.
Police cordoned off areas of Pembroke Castle while they investigated after the bottles were found in a cavern behind the main building.
At least one of the bottles was labelled "novichok" when it was discovered in the grounds of the 11th Century castle.
Police later arrested a 64-year-old man on suspicion of causing a public nuisance.
Superintendent Ross Evans said: "Police and other agencies have used significant resources responding to these five incidents over the past three weeks.
We are waiting for forensic test results but we are treating this as a series of hoax incidents
"We are treating them as linked. On each occasion an unknown substance has been left in a container at Wogan's Cavern located behind the castle.
"We are waiting for forensic test results but we are treating this as a series of hoax incidents.
"Hoax calls and incidents not only waste very valuable time for all emergency services but also cause unnecessary concern within our communities."
Police cordoned off areas in the castle grounds but the main castle stayed open.
It comes after a Novichok poisoning in Wiltshire hospitalised Charlie Rowley, 45, and claimed the life of his 44 year old partner Dawn Sturgess.
Ms Sturgess died on July 8, just a week after she and Mr Rowley came into contact with the nerve agent, which is believed to have been left over from the attempted assassination of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in March.
Ms Sturgess and Mr Rowley were found unconscious and foaming at the mouth at Mr Rowley's home on Muggleton Road in Amesbury, on June 30, just hours apart from one another, with police later confirming they had been exposed to Novichok.