Nerve Agent Poisonings, Russia's Alleged Role and UK Response: Central Issues 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 intended victim, former Russian agent the ex-spy Sergei Skripal, survived an brazen effort to kill him, but an innocent British citizen, a woman named Dawn Sturgess, tragically died. An official inquiry was conducted last year, probing the poisoning of 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.
Who Was Dawn Sturgess?
The victim, Dawn Sturgess was a 44-year-old woman with three children. On 30 June 2018, she and her boyfriend, Charlie Rowley, fell ill at his home in a Wiltshire town called Amesbury. Tragically, Sturgess passed away on July 8, while Rowley pulled through but has experienced ongoing health problems. At first, police believed it was a case of drug poisoning. Within days, it became apparent they were victims with the nerve agent novichok. Sturgess sprayed herself with the novichok 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 caught “in the crossfire” 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, seven miles south of Amesbury. Skripal had been living quietly in a suburb after a prisoner swap. Both became gravely sick but managed to survive.
What Was the Motive for Targeting the Skripals?
The UK government believe that Vladimir Putin approved the attack on Sergei Skripal. A suggested motive offered is that Skripal possessed sensitive knowledge about the Russian president’s “criminal embezzlement” involving profits from metals production. There have also been suggestions that Skripal kept assisting intelligence services in the West after his supposed retirement from espionage. In response to the attack, the UK government expelled 23 Russian diplomats.
What Form Did the Attack on Skripal Take?
British investigators believe a pair of operatives, using the names Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, smeared the nerve agent to the front-door handle of the Skripals’ house in the early afternoon on 4 March. When the Skripals left shortly afterwards to go out, they both touched the handle.
What Happened With the Novichok Bottle Afterwards?
This remains a key unanswered question of the case. A theory is they may have used a portable heat sealer to repackage the bottle during a “missing 33 minutes” 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, investigators lean toward the idea he found it shortly after the attack. Detectives found CCTV footage appearing to show 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 categorically dismissed the possibility of a another vessel, which has never been found.
The Lethality of the Novichok?
The inquiry was told it was of exceptional potency and could have killed thousands. 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 went to hospital 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.
Was Enough Done to Protect Sergei Skripal?
Sturgess’s family believes so. They assert that he was a blatant target for Putin but was given insufficient security in Salisbury. Skripal is said to have refused security measures, including simple surveillance.
Could More Have Been Done to Protect the Public Following the Incident?
Similarly, Sturgess’s family believes so. No public warnings about handling suspicious items that may have contained the poison were issued after the initial attack. The former chief medical officer for England, Dame Sally Davies, claimed she had a “strong recollection” of advising the public not to pick up objects near the scene in March. However, there is no documentation of such a warning. A public warning was only given following the June incident.
What About the Response of the Emergency Services?
The record is varied. There were many instances of great bravery by emergency personnel. However, local authorities has apologised for wrongly categorising Sturgess as a drug user. Rowley had a history, but Sturgess did not.
Did Skripal Have Luck to Survive?
Without a doubt. A paramedic told the inquiry that he inadvertently administered Skripal a specific antidote, a drug used for certain poisonings, after a fortunate accident. This intervention potentially rescued Skripal’s life.
What Have the Russians Said?
The Moscow's diplomatic mission has claimed there are many “unanswered questions” around the poisoning. It highlights claims that Skripal’s car was seen out on the morning of 4 March and that their phones were deactivated for a period of time. It also doubts the lack of CCTV around the Skripal house. British investigators have stated there have been hundreds, if not thousands of red herrings in the case.
