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The brave cop poisoned by a nerve agent used against a Russian spy has insisted he is not a hero.

Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey, who fell ill after tending to poisoned spy Sergei Skripal and daughter Yulia, has released a statement saying "he does not consider himself a hero", and was "merely doing his job".

Police and intelligence agencies are continuing to piece together how the shocking nerve agent attack in Salisbury unfolded, as the investigation enters its seventh day on Saturday.

Police have identified more than 240 witnesses and are looking at more than 200 pieces of evidence in their investigation into a nerve agent attack on a Russian ex-spy and his daughter, interior minister Amber Rudd said on Saturday.

A statement released through Wiltshire Police reads: "Nick would like us to say on his behalf that he and his family are hugely grateful for all the messages of support from the public, and colleagues from the police family. People have been so kind and he has expressed that he will never forget that kindness.

(Image: PA)

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"He also wishes to say that he was part of a group of officers and other emergency service colleagues who dealt with the initial incident.

"He wants to say that he does not consider himself a 'hero', he states he was merely doing his job - a job he loves and is immensely proud of - just like all of his other dedicated colleagues do, day in-day out, in order to protect the public and keep people safe.

"He would like to thank everyone once again for all of their kind thoughts and best wishes, they are truly appreciated.

"He asks respectfully that the media allow his family privacy at this difficult time."

(Image: AFP) (Image: AFP)

Rudd told reporters after chairing a meeting of the government's Cobra security committee that more than 250 counter terrorism police were involved in the investigation, which was proceeding with "speed and professionalism".

Ms Rudd said Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia remaimed in a "critical" condition.

Detective Sergeant Bailey was also still "seriously ill" but had been speaking to his family in hospital.

She said it was still too early to say who was responsible for the attack.

(Image: Daily Mirror)

"This investigation is focused on making sure that we keep people safe and also that we collect all the evidence so that when it comes to attribution (of the attack) we will be absolutely clear where it should be," she said.

"The police have said that if anybody thinks they have any additional information they would welcome them coming forward.

"There is also substantial amounts of CCTV they have to go through. This is a painstaking, detailed investigation and the police need to be given the space and time to get on with it."

So far it had been assumed Mr Skripal and daughter Yulia were exposed to the toxic substance during their visits to a Zizzi restaurant or a nearby pub on Sunday afternoon.

They were both found unconscious on a bench a short time later.

Police activity resumed at Salisbury's London Road cemetery, where investigators wearing hazmat suits could be seen near the grave of Mr Skripal's wife Liudmila.

Officers have erected a large white tent close to where she was buried in 2012.

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Police vehicles and an ambulance incident support unit were also visible.

Scotland Yard confirmed officers were not exhuming a body, but would not comment further on the investigation, saying only the tent was in place for "operational reasons".

Entrances to the cemetery remained sealed off by police cordons.

From the busy main road, a blue and white forensic tent could be seen over the memorial stone of Mr Skripal's son Alexander, who was cremated last year.