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 the spring of 2018 was an unprecedented incident that sent shock waves across the world. The targeted man, 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 public investigation was held last year, probing the attack on the Skripals, the actions of first responders, and the tragic circumstances that ensnared Sturgess. Below are some of the key questions it explored.
The Identity of Dawn Sturgess?
Dawn Sturgess was a 44-year-old mother of three. On June 30, 2018, she and her boyfriend, Charlie Rowley, became sick at his residence in Amesbury, Wiltshire. Sturgess died on 8 July, while Rowley survived but has suffered ill health since. At first, police thought it might be a drugs overdose. Within days, it became apparent they were victims with the nerve agent novichok. It is believed Sturgess applied with the substance 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 “in the crossfire” of an unlawful foreign plot to kill.
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 poisoned by novichok at his home in Salisbury, seven miles south of Amesbury. Skripal had been settled in a suburban cul-de-sac after a spy exchange. Both fell seriously ill but ultimately survived.
What Was the Motive for Targeting the Skripals?
The UK government believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised the assassination attempt on Sergei Skripal. One theory offered is that Skripal possessed sensitive knowledge about the Russian president’s “criminal embezzlement” 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 response to the attack, the UK government expelled 23 Russian diplomats.
How Was the Attack on Skripal Take?
UK police believe a pair of operatives, using the aliases Petrov and Boshirov, smeared the nerve agent to the exterior door handle of the Skripals’ house in the early afternoon 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 Novichok Bottle Afterwards?
This remains a central mystery of the case. One suggestion is they may have used a portable heat sealer 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 CCTV footage appearing to show Rowley searching bins in Salisbury on the fateful day. If that is correct, Rowley had the bottle for over three months and even relocated while possessing it. Yet, police have not categorically dismissed the possibility of a another vessel, which remains missing.
How Dangerous Was the Novichok?
The inquiry was told it was of very high purity and could have killed thousands. A government scientist stated that a tiny quantity – 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. Several 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?
Sturgess’s family believes so. They contend that he was a “clear and obvious” target for the Russian state but was given insufficient security in Salisbury. Skripal is reportedly declined security measures, including simple surveillance.
Could More Have Been Done to Protect the Public After the Attack?
Similarly, Sturgess’s family holds this view. No public warnings about picking up containers that may have contained the poison were issued after the initial attack. The former top medical advisor, Dame Sally Davies, claimed she had a “strong recollection” of warning people not to pick up objects near the scene in March. However, there is no record of such a warning. A public warning was only given following the June incident.
What About the Response of the Emergency Services?
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 a specific antidote, a drug used for organophosphate poisoning, after a fortunate accident. This intervention may have saved Skripal’s life.
What Have the Russians Said?
The Moscow's diplomatic mission has claimed there are numerous unresolved issues around the poisoning. It highlights claims that Skripal’s car was seen out on the morning in question and that their mobiles were turned off for a period of time. It also questions the absence of cameras around the Skripal house. UK police have stated there have been hundreds, if not thousands of red herrings in the case.
