Nerve Agent Attacks, Moscow's Involvement and UK Response: Key Questions of the Inquiry
The poisoning incident involving Novichok in the city of Salisbury in south-west England during March 2018 was an extraordinary event that sent shock waves across the world. The targeted man, former Russian agent Sergei Skripal, survived an brazen effort to kill him, but an bystander, a woman named Dawn Sturgess, lost her life. 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 explored.
The Identity of Dawn Sturgess?
The victim, Dawn Sturgess was a 44-year-old woman with three children. On June 30, 2018, she and her partner, Charlie Rowley, fell ill at his home in Amesbury, Wiltshire. Tragically, Sturgess passed away on July 8, while Rowley survived but has suffered ill health since. Initially, police thought it might be a case of drug poisoning. Within days, it became clear they had been poisoned with the nerve agent novichok. It is believed Sturgess applied with the substance believing it was perfume. Rowley is believed to have discovered a container of novichok made to look like perfume and presented it to Sturgess. The inquiry heard that Sturgess was an unintended casualty of an “illegal and outrageous international assassination attempt”.
What Was a Container of Novichok Doing in the English Countryside?
On 4 March 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 living quietly in a suburb after a prisoner swap. Both became gravely sick but managed to survive.
Why Were the Skripals Targeted?
The British authorities believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised the assassination attempt on Sergei Skripal. A suggested motive offered is that Skripal harboured secret information about the Russian president’s “criminal embezzlement” involving profits from metals production. There have also been indications that Skripal continued to help intelligence services in the West after his alleged retirement from espionage. In the aftermath, the UK government expelled 23 Russian diplomats.
How Was the Attack on Skripal Take?
British investigators believe two Russian agents, using the names Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, applied novichok to the exterior door handle of the Skripals’ house between noon and 12.15pm on March 4. When the Skripals left shortly afterwards to go out, they both touched the handle.
What Happened With the Container of Novichok Afterwards?
This remains a key unanswered question of the case. A theory is they may have used a small sealing device to repackage the bottle during a “missing 33 minutes” when they disappeared from surveillance cameras and discarded it in a trash can. Rowley said he believed he found the bottle in June, a few days before giving it to Sturgess. However, investigators lean toward the idea he found it shortly after the attack. Detectives found CCTV footage that seems to depict Rowley searching bins in Salisbury on the fateful day. 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 second container, which has never been found.
The Lethality of the Novichok?
The inquiry was told it was of exceptional potency and had the potential for mass casualties. A expert witness stated that a tiny quantity – as small as a sixth of a grain of salt – could have been fatal. After the poisonings, dozens of individuals self-presented at A&E worried about exposure. Three police officers were affected, including Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey. Emergency services disposed of two dozen vehicles they feared had come into contact with the poison.
Should More Have Been Done to Protect Sergei Skripal?
The victim's relatives believes so. They contend that he was a “clear and obvious” target for Putin but was given insufficient security in Salisbury. Skripal is reportedly declined security measures, even basic CCTV.
Should More Have Been Done to Protect the Public Following the Incident?
Similarly, Sturgess’s family holds this view. No official alerts about picking up containers that may have contained nerve agent were issued after the Skripal poisoning. The former top medical advisor, Dame Sally Davies, said she recalled clear memory of warning people not to touch items near the scene in March 2018. However, there is no record of such a warning. A alert was only given after Sturgess was poisoned.
Regarding the Performance of First Responders?
The assessment is mixed. There were many instances of great bravery by emergency personnel. However, Wiltshire police has apologised for wrongly categorising Sturgess as a drug user. Rowley had a history, but Sturgess did not.
Was Skripal Lucky to Survive?
Absolutely. A first responder told the inquiry that he accidentally gave Skripal atropine, a drug used for certain poisonings, after knocking over a drugs bag. This intervention potentially rescued Skripal’s life.
What Have the Russians Said?
The Russian embassy in the UK has claimed there are numerous unresolved issues around the poisoning. It highlights claims that Skripal’s car was seen out on the morning of 4 March and that their mobiles were turned off for four hours. It also doubts the lack of CCTV around the Skripal house. UK police have stated there have been a multitude of red herrings in the case.
