Novichok 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 created international shockwaves. The intended victim, former Russian agent Sergei Skripal, survived an brazen effort to kill him, but an bystander, Dawn Sturgess, tragically died. An official inquiry was held last year, probing the poisoning of the Skripals, the response of emergency services, and the tragic circumstances that ensnared Sturgess. Below are some of the key questions it delved into.
Who Was Dawn Sturgess?
The victim, Dawn Sturgess was a 44-year-old mother of three. On 30 June 2018, she and her boyfriend, Charlie Rowley, became sick at his residence in Amesbury, Wiltshire. Tragically, Sturgess passed away on July 8, while Rowley survived but has experienced ongoing health problems. Initially, 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 believed to have discovered a container of novichok made to look like perfume and presented it to Sturgess. The inquiry heard that Sturgess was an unintended casualty of an unlawful foreign plot to kill.
What Was a Container 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 became gravely sick but ultimately survived.
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. One theory offered is that Skripal harboured secret information 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 supposed retirement from espionage. In the aftermath, the UK government expelled 23 Russian diplomats.
What Form Did the Attack on Skripal Take?
UK police believe two Russian agents, using the aliases Alexander Petrov and Ruslan 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 Happened With the Container of Novichok Afterwards?
This remains a central mystery of the case. One suggestion is they may have used a small sealing device to repackage the bottle during a “missing 33 minutes” when they disappeared from surveillance cameras and left it in a bin. 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 shortly after the attack. Detectives found CCTV footage appearing to show Rowley searching bins in Salisbury on the day the Skripals fell ill. 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 has never been found.
How Dangerous Was the Novichok?
The inquiry was told it was of very high purity and had the potential for mass casualties. A expert witness stated that a “minuscule” amount – comparable to a speck of salt – might have caused death. After the poisonings, 87 people went to hospital worried about exposure. Three police officers were contaminated, including DS Nick Bailey. Emergency services scrapped 24 vehicles they believed were tainted by the poison.
Should More Have Been Done to Protect Sergei Skripal?
Sturgess’s family argues no. They assert that he was a blatant target for the Russian state 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 Following the Incident?
Similarly, Sturgess’s family holds this view. No public warnings about handling suspicious items 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 touch items near the scene in March 2018. However, there is no documentation of such a statement. A alert was only given after Sturgess was poisoned.
Regarding the Performance of First Responders?
The assessment is mixed. There were numerous acts of courage by paramedics, firefighters and police officers. However, local authorities has expressed regret for mistakenly labeling Sturgess as a drug user. Rowley was known to use drugs, but Sturgess was not.
Did Skripal Have Luck to Survive?
Absolutely. A first responder told the inquiry that he accidentally gave 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 Moscow's diplomatic mission has claimed there are numerous unresolved issues around the poisoning. It points to claims that the Skripals' vehicle was spotted out on the morning in question and that their mobiles were turned off for four hours. It also questions the absence of cameras around the Skripal house. British investigators have stated there have been hundreds, if not thousands of red herrings in the case.
