Novichok Attacks, Russia's Alleged Role and British Reaction: Key Questions of the Investigation
The Novichok nerve agent attack in Salisbury in the English countryside during the spring of 2018 was an unprecedented incident that reverberated globally. The targeted man, former Russian agent Sergei Skripal, recovered from an audacious assassination attempt, but an bystander, Dawn Sturgess, tragically died. An public investigation was conducted last year, examining the attack on the Skripals, the response of emergency services, and the tragic circumstances 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, 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 case of drug poisoning. Within days, it became clear they had been poisoned with the nerve agent novichok. It is believed Sturgess applied with the substance thinking it was a fragrance. Rowley is believed to have discovered a vessel containing the agent made to look like perfume and given it to his partner. The inquiry heard that Sturgess was an unintended casualty of an “illegal and outrageous international assassination attempt”.
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 spy exchange. Both fell seriously ill but ultimately survived.
What Was the Motive for Targeting the Skripals?
The UK government are convinced that Vladimir Putin approved the attack on Sergei Skripal. One theory offered is that Skripal harboured secret information about the Russian president’s “criminal embezzlement” involving profits from metals production. There have also been suggestions that Skripal kept assisting western security agencies after his alleged retirement from espionage. In the aftermath, the UK government ordered out 23 Russian diplomats.
What Form Did the Attack on Skripal Carried Out?
British investigators believe two Russian agents, using the names Petrov and Boshirov, applied novichok 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 came into contact with it.
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 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 found it soon after the Skripal poisoning. Detectives found video evidence that seems to depict Rowley searching bins in Salisbury on the day the Skripals fell ill. If this is accurate, Rowley had the bottle for more than 90 days 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 very high purity and had the potential for mass casualties. 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 exposure. Three police officers were contaminated, including Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey. Emergency services scrapped 24 vehicles they feared had come into contact with the poison.
Was Enough Done to Protect Sergei Skripal?
The victim's relatives believes so. They assert that he was a blatant target for Putin but was provided with little protection in Salisbury. Skripal is said to have refused security measures, even basic CCTV.
Should More Have Been Done to Protect the Public Following the Incident?
Similarly, Sturgess’s family holds this view. No official alerts about picking up containers that may have contained nerve agent were issued after the Skripal poisoning. The former top medical advisor, Dame Sally Davies, claimed she had a clear memory of warning people not to touch items near the scene in March. 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 assessment is mixed. There were many instances of great bravery by emergency personnel. However, Wiltshire police has expressed regret 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 certain poisonings, after a fortunate accident. This intervention potentially rescued Skripal’s life.
The Russian Stance
The Moscow's diplomatic mission has claimed there are numerous unresolved issues around the poisoning. It points to claims that Skripal’s car was seen out on the morning in question and that their mobiles were turned off for four hours. It also doubts the lack of CCTV around the Skripal house. UK police have stated there have been hundreds, if not thousands of false leads in the case.
