Nerve Agent Poisonings, Russia's Alleged Role and UK Response: Central Issues of the Inquiry
The poisoning incident involving Novichok in Salisbury in south-west England during March 2018 was an extraordinary event that sent shock waves across the world. The intended victim, former Russian agent the ex-spy Sergei Skripal, survived an brazen effort to kill him, but an innocent British citizen, Dawn Sturgess, tragically died. An public investigation was held last year, probing the attack on the Skripals, the response of emergency services, and the tragic circumstances that led to Sturgess's death. Below are some of the key questions it delved into.
The Identity of Dawn Sturgess?
The victim, Dawn Sturgess was a 44-year-old mother of three. On 30 June 2018, she and her boyfriend, Charlie Rowley, fell ill at his home in a Wiltshire town called Amesbury. Sturgess died on 8 July, while Rowley pulled through but has experienced ongoing health problems. At first, police believed it was a drugs overdose. Soon after, it became apparent they were victims with the chemical weapon Novichok. Sturgess sprayed herself with the novichok believing it was perfume. Rowley is thought to have found a container of novichok made to look like perfume and given it to his partner. The inquiry heard that Sturgess was caught âin the crossfireâ of an âillegal and outrageous international assassination attemptâ.
What Was a Container of Novichok Doing in South-West England?
On March 4, 2018, former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia Skripal, were attacked with Novichok at his home in Salisbury, not far from Amesbury. Skripal had been settled in a suburban cul-de-sac after a spy exchange. Both became gravely sick but managed to survive.
What Was the Motive for Targeting the Skripals?
The British authorities are convinced that Vladimir Putin authorised the assassination attempt on Sergei Skripal. A suggested motive offered is that Skripal possessed sensitive knowledge about the Russian presidentâs âcriminal embezzlementâ involving profits from metals production. There have also been suggestions that Skripal continued to help intelligence services in the West after his alleged retirement from espionage. In the aftermath, the UK government ordered out 23 Russian diplomats.
How Was the Attack on Skripal Take?
UK police believe two Russian agents, using the aliases Petrov and Boshirov, applied novichok to the exterior door handle of the Skripalsâ house between noon and 12.15pm on March 4. When the former spy and his daughter left shortly afterwards to go out, they both came into contact with it.
What Happened With the Container of Novichok Afterwards?
This remains a key unanswered question of the case. One suggestion is they may have used a portable heat sealer to repackage the bottle during a unaccounted-for period when they disappeared from surveillance cameras and left it in a bin. Rowley said he believed he found the bottle in June, a few days before giving it to Sturgess. However, police think it more likely he found it shortly after the attack. Detectives found video evidence that seems to depict Rowley searching bins in Salisbury on the day the Skripals fell ill. If that is correct, Rowley had the bottle for over three months and even moved home with it. Yet, police have not been able to rule out the possibility of a another vessel, which has never been found.
How Dangerous Was the Novichok?
The inquiry was told it was of very high purity and could have killed thousands. A expert witness stated that a âminusculeâ amount â as small as a sixth of a grain of salt â could have been fatal. After the poisonings, 87 people went to hospital worried about contamination. Three police officers were affected, including Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey. Emergency services scrapped 24 vehicles they believed were tainted by the poison.
Should More Have Been Done to Protect Sergei Skripal?
Sturgessâs family believes so. They assert that he was a blatant target for Putin but was provided with little protection in Salisbury. Skripal is said to have refused security measures, even basic CCTV.
Should More Have Been Done to Protect the Public Following the Incident?
Similarly, Sturgessâs family holds this view. No public warnings about handling suspicious items that may have contained nerve agent were issued after the initial attack. The former top medical advisor, Dame Sally Davies, claimed she had a clear memory of warning people not to touch items near the scene in March 2018. However, there is no documentation of such a statement. A public warning was only given following the June incident.
Regarding the Performance of First Responders?
The assessment is mixed. There were numerous acts of courage by paramedics, firefighters and police officers. However, Wiltshire police has apologised for wrongly categorising Sturgess as a user of illegal drugs. Rowley was known to use drugs, but Sturgess was not.
Did Skripal Have Luck to Survive?
Absolutely. A first responder told the inquiry that he inadvertently administered Skripal atropine, a drug used for certain poisonings, after knocking over a drugs bag. This intervention may have saved Skripalâs life.
The Russian Stance
The Russian embassy in the UK has claimed there are many âunanswered questionsâ around the poisoning. It highlights claims that Skripalâs car was seen out on the morning of 4 March and that their mobiles were turned off for a period of time. It also doubts the absence of cameras around the Skripal house. British investigators have stated there have been a multitude of false leads in the case.
