Nerve Agent Poisonings, Moscow's Involvement and UK Response: Key Questions of the Inquiry
The poisoning incident involving Novichok in Salisbury in the English countryside during March 2018 was an extraordinary event that created international shockwaves. The targeted man, former Russian agent the ex-spy Sergei Skripal, recovered from an audacious assassination attempt, but an bystander, Dawn Sturgess, tragically died. An official inquiry was held last year, examining the poisoning of the Skripals, the actions of first responders, and the tragic circumstances that ensnared Sturgess. Below are several central issues it delved into.
Who Was Dawn Sturgess?
Dawn Sturgess was a 44-year-old woman with three children. On 30 June 2018, she and her boyfriend, Charlie Rowley, became sick at his residence in a Wiltshire town called Amesbury. Sturgess died on 8 July, while Rowley survived but has suffered ill health since. Initially, police thought it might be a drugs overdose. Within days, it became clear they had been poisoned 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 presented it to Sturgess. The inquiry heard that Sturgess was caught “in the crossfire” of an “illegal and outrageous international assassination attempt”.
Why Was a Vessel of Novichok Doing in South-West England?
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 fell seriously ill but managed to survive.
What Was the Motive for Targeting the Skripals?
The UK government are convinced that Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised the assassination attempt on Sergei Skripal. A suggested motive offered is that Skripal possessed sensitive knowledge about the Russian president’s alleged financial crimes involving revenue from the metals industry. There have also been indications that Skripal kept assisting intelligence services in the West after his supposed retirement from espionage. In the aftermath, the UK government ordered out 23 Russian diplomats.
How Was the Attack on Skripal Carried Out?
UK police believe a pair of operatives, using the names Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, smeared the nerve agent to the exterior door handle of the Skripals’ house between noon and 12.15pm on March 4. When the Skripals left soon after 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 small sealing device to reseal the container during a “missing 33 minutes” when they disappeared from surveillance cameras 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 came upon it shortly after the attack. Detectives found video evidence appearing to show Rowley looking through rubbish in Salisbury on the fateful day. If this is accurate, Rowley had the bottle for over three months and even relocated while possessing it. Yet, police have not been able to rule out the possibility of a second container, which remains missing.
The Lethality of the Novichok?
The inquiry was told it was of very high purity and could have killed thousands. 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 feared had come into contact with the poison.
Should More Have Been Done to Protect Sergei Skripal?
The victim's relatives argues no. They contend that he was a “clear and obvious” target for Putin but was given insufficient security in Salisbury. Skripal is said to have refused security measures, even basic CCTV.
Could More Have Been Done to Protect the Public After the Attack?
Similarly, Sturgess’s family believes so. No public warnings about picking up containers 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 2018. However, there is no record of such a statement. A alert was only given following the June incident.
Regarding the Response of the Emergency Services?
The assessment is mixed. There were many instances of great bravery by paramedics, firefighters and police officers. However, Wiltshire police has apologised for mistakenly labeling Sturgess as a user of illegal drugs. Rowley had a history, but Sturgess was not.
Did Skripal Have Luck to Survive?
Absolutely. A first responder 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.
The Russian Stance
The Russian embassy in the UK has claimed there are many “unanswered questions” around the poisoning. It highlights claims that the Skripals' vehicle was spotted out on the morning of 4 March and that their phones were deactivated for a period of time. It also questions the absence of cameras around the Skripal house. British investigators have stated there have been hundreds, if not thousands of false leads in the case.
