Novichok Attacks, Russia's Alleged Role and UK Response: Central Issues of the Inquiry
The poisoning incident involving Novichok in Salisbury in south-west England during the spring of 2018 was an extraordinary event that reverberated globally. The intended victim, former Russian agent Sergei Skripal, survived an brazen effort to kill him, but an bystander, Dawn Sturgess, lost her life. An public investigation was conducted last year, probing the attack on the Skripals, the response of emergency services, and the fatal sequence of events 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 partner, Charlie Rowley, fell ill at his home in Amesbury, Wiltshire. Sturgess died on 8 July, while Rowley pulled through but has suffered ill health since. At first, police believed it was 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 believed to have discovered 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 South-West England?
On March 4, 2018, former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia Skripal, were poisoned by novichok at his home in Salisbury, not far from Amesbury. Skripal had been settled in a suburban cul-de-sac after a prisoner swap. Both fell seriously ill but ultimately survived.
What Was the Motive for Targeting the Skripals?
The British authorities 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 revenue from the metals industry. There have also been indications 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.
What Form Did the Attack on Skripal Carried Out?
UK police believe a pair of operatives, using the aliases 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 Skripals left shortly afterwards to go out, they both came into contact with it.
What Happened 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 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, investigators lean toward the idea he found it soon after the Skripal poisoning. Detectives found CCTV footage appearing to show Rowley looking through rubbish in Salisbury on the fateful day. 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 has never been found.
How Dangerous Was the Novichok?
The inquiry was told it was of exceptional potency and had the potential for mass casualties. A government scientist stated that a “minuscule” amount – comparable to a speck of salt – could have been fatal. After the poisonings, dozens of individuals went to hospital worried about exposure. Several officers were contaminated, including DS 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 believes so. They contend that he was a blatant target for the Russian state but was provided with little protection in Salisbury. Skripal is reportedly declined security measures, even basic CCTV.
Should More Have Been Done to Protect the Public Following the Incident?
Again, Sturgess’s family believes so. No official alerts about picking up containers that may have contained nerve agent were issued after the initial attack. The former top medical advisor, Dame Sally Davies, claimed she had a clear memory of advising the public not to touch items near the scene in March 2018. However, there is no documentation of such a warning. A public warning was only given after Sturgess was poisoned.
What About the Performance of First Responders?
The assessment is mixed. There were many instances of great bravery by paramedics, firefighters and police officers. However, Wiltshire police has expressed regret for wrongly categorising Sturgess as a user of illegal drugs. Rowley had a history, but Sturgess did 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 organophosphate poisoning, 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 numerous unresolved issues around the poisoning. It highlights claims that the Skripals' vehicle was spotted out on the morning of 4 March and that their mobiles were turned off for a period of time. It also questions the absence of cameras around the Skripal house. British investigators have stated there have been a multitude of red herrings in the case.
