Nerve Agent Attacks, Moscow's Involvement and British Reaction: Central Issues of the Inquiry
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 intended victim, former Russian agent the ex-spy Sergei Skripal, recovered from an audacious assassination attempt, but an innocent British citizen, a woman named Dawn Sturgess, lost her life. An official inquiry was conducted last year, probing the attack on the Skripals, the actions of first responders, and the fatal sequence of events that ensnared Sturgess. Below are some of the key questions it explored.
Who Was Dawn Sturgess?
Dawn Sturgess was a 44-year-old woman with three children. On 30 June 2018, she and her partner, Charlie Rowley, became sick at his residence in Amesbury, Wiltshire. Tragically, Sturgess passed away on July 8, while Rowley survived but has suffered ill health since. At first, police thought it might be a case of drug poisoning. Soon after, it became apparent they were victims with the chemical weapon Novichok. It is believed Sturgess applied with the novichok believing it was perfume. Rowley is thought to have found a vessel containing the agent disguised as a perfume bottle and presented it to Sturgess. The inquiry heard that Sturgess was an unintended casualty 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 living quietly in a suburb after a prisoner swap. Both became gravely sick but ultimately survived.
Why Were the Skripals Targeted?
The British authorities believe that Vladimir Putin authorised the assassination attempt on Sergei Skripal. A suggested motive offered is that Skripal possessed sensitive knowledge about the Russian president’s “criminal embezzlement” involving revenue from the metals industry. There have also been suggestions that Skripal kept assisting intelligence services in the West after his alleged retirement from espionage. In response to the attack, the UK government ordered out 23 Russian diplomats.
How Was the Attack on Skripal Take?
UK police believe two Russian agents, using the aliases Petrov and Boshirov, smeared the nerve agent to the exterior door handle of the Skripals’ house between noon and 12.15pm on 4 March. When the Skripals left soon after to go out, they both touched the handle.
What Did the Agents Do 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 unaccounted-for period when they vanished from Salisbury CCTV 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, 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 this is accurate, Rowley had the bottle for over three months and even moved home with it. Yet, police have not been able to rule out the possibility of a another vessel, which remains missing.
How Dangerous Was 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 – might have caused death. After the poisonings, dozens of individuals went to hospital worried about exposure. Three police officers were contaminated, 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?
Sturgess’s family argues no. They contend that he was a blatant target for the Russian state but was provided with little protection in Salisbury. Skripal is said to have refused security measures, even basic CCTV.
Could More Have Been Done to Protect the Public Following the Incident?
Similarly, Sturgess’s family believes so. No public warnings about picking up containers that may have contained the poison were issued after the Skripal poisoning. The former chief medical officer for England, Dame Sally Davies, claimed she had a clear memory of warning people not to touch items near the scene in March 2018. However, there is no record of such a statement. A public warning was only given after Sturgess was poisoned.
What About the Response of the Emergency Services?
The record is varied. There were many instances of great bravery by paramedics, firefighters and police officers. However, local authorities has apologised for mistakenly labeling Sturgess as a drug user. Rowley had a history, but Sturgess did not.
Was Skripal Lucky to Survive?
Without a doubt. A first responder told the inquiry that he inadvertently administered Skripal atropine, a drug used for certain poisonings, after a fortunate accident. This intervention potentially rescued Skripal’s life.
What Have the Russians Said?
The Russian embassy in the UK has claimed there are many “unanswered questions” around the poisoning. It highlights claims that Skripal’s car was seen out on the morning in question and that their phones were deactivated for a period of time. It also questions 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.
