Nerve Agent Attacks, Russia's Alleged Role and UK Response: Key Questions of the Investigation
The poisoning incident involving Novichok in the city of Salisbury in the English countryside during March 2018 was an extraordinary event that sent shock waves across the world. The targeted man, former Russian agent the ex-spy Sergei Skripal, recovered from an brazen effort to kill him, but an innocent British citizen, Dawn Sturgess, lost her life. An public investigation was conducted last year, examining 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 explored.
The Identity of Dawn Sturgess?
Dawn Sturgess was a 44-year-old mother of three. 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 pulled through but has experienced ongoing health problems. Initially, police believed it was a drugs overdose. Soon after, it became apparent they were victims with the chemical weapon Novichok. Sturgess sprayed herself with the novichok thinking it was a fragrance. Rowley is thought to have found a vessel containing the agent made to look like perfume and given it to his partner. 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 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 settled in a suburban cul-de-sac after a spy exchange. Both became gravely sick but ultimately survived.
What Was the Motive for Targeting the Skripals?
The British authorities are convinced 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 profits from metals production. There have also been indications that Skripal continued to help 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?
British investigators believe two Russian agents, using the names Petrov and Boshirov, smeared the nerve agent to the front-door handle of the Skripals’ house in the early afternoon on March 4. When the former spy and his daughter left soon after to go out, they both touched the handle.
What Did the Agents Do 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 unaccounted-for period when they vanished from Salisbury CCTV 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, police think it more likely he came upon it soon after the Skripal poisoning. 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 more than 90 days and even moved home with 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 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 exposure. Three police officers were affected, including Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey. Emergency services scrapped 24 vehicles they feared had come into contact with the poison.
Should More Have Been Done to Protect Sergei Skripal?
Sturgess’s family argues no. They assert that he was a “clear and obvious” target for Putin 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 official alerts about handling suspicious items that may have contained the poison were issued after the initial attack. The former top medical advisor, Dame Sally Davies, said she recalled “strong recollection” of warning people not to pick up objects near the scene in March 2018. However, there is no record of such a statement. A public warning was only given following the June incident.
What About the Response of the Emergency Services?
The record is varied. There were numerous acts of courage by paramedics, firefighters and police officers. However, Wiltshire police has expressed regret for wrongly categorising Sturgess as a user of illegal drugs. Rowley was known to use drugs, but Sturgess did not.
Was Skripal Lucky to Survive?
Without a doubt. 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 the Skripals' vehicle was spotted out on the morning in question and that their mobiles were turned off for a period of time. It also doubts 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.
