Nerve Agent Poisonings, Moscow's Involvement and UK Response: Key Questions of the Investigation
The Novichok nerve agent attack in the city of Salisbury in south-west England during March 2018 was an extraordinary event that created international shockwaves. The intended victim, former Russian agent the ex-spy Sergei Skripal, recovered from an brazen effort to kill him, but an bystander, Dawn Sturgess, lost her life. An official inquiry was held last year, probing the attack on the Skripals, the actions of first responders, and the tragic circumstances that led to Sturgess's death. Below are several central issues it explored.
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 Amesbury, Wiltshire. Tragically, Sturgess passed away on July 8, while Rowley survived but has suffered ill health since. Initially, police believed it was a case of drug poisoning. Soon after, it became apparent they were victims with the nerve agent novichok. It is believed Sturgess applied with the novichok thinking it was a fragrance. 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 unlawful foreign plot to kill.
Why Was a Vessel 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 living quietly in a suburb after a spy exchange. Both became gravely sick but managed to survive.
Why Were the Skripals Targeted?
The UK government are convinced that Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the attack on Sergei Skripal. One theory offered is that Skripal possessed sensitive knowledge about the Russian president’s alleged financial crimes involving profits from metals production. There have also been suggestions that Skripal kept assisting 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?
UK police believe a pair of operatives, using the names Petrov and Boshirov, smeared the nerve agent to the front-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 came into contact with it.
What Did the Agents Do With the Container of Novichok Afterwards?
This remains a central mystery of the case. A theory is they may have used a portable heat sealer to reseal the container during a “missing 33 minutes” when they vanished from Salisbury CCTV and discarded it in a trash can. Rowley stated he thought 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 more than 90 days and even relocated while possessing it. Yet, police have not been able to rule out the possibility of a second container, which remains missing.
How Dangerous Was the Novichok?
The inquiry was told it was of exceptional potency and had the potential for mass casualties. A expert witness stated that a “minuscule” amount – as small as a sixth of a grain of salt – might have caused death. After the poisonings, 87 people went to hospital worried about contamination. Three police officers were affected, including DS Nick Bailey. Emergency services disposed of two dozen vehicles they believed were tainted by the poison.
Should More Have Been Done to Protect Sergei Skripal?
The victim's relatives believes so. They contend that he was a blatant target for the Russian state but was given insufficient security in Salisbury. Skripal is said to have refused security measures, including simple surveillance.
Should More Have Been Done to Protect the Public Following the Incident?
Again, Sturgess’s family believes so. No official alerts about handling suspicious items 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 pick up objects near the scene in March 2018. However, there is no documentation of such a warning. A alert was only given following the June incident.
Regarding the Response of the Emergency Services?
The record is varied. There were many instances of great bravery by emergency personnel. However, local authorities has expressed regret 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 paramedic told the inquiry that he accidentally gave Skripal atropine, a drug used for certain poisonings, after a fortunate accident. This intervention potentially rescued Skripal’s life.
The Russian Stance
The Moscow's diplomatic mission has claimed there are numerous unresolved issues around the poisoning. It points to claims that Skripal’s 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 lack of CCTV around the Skripal house. UK police have stated there have been a multitude of red herrings in the case.