Nerve Agent Attacks, Russia's Alleged Role and UK Response: Central Issues of the Investigation
The Novichok nerve agent attack in the city of Salisbury in south-west England during the spring of 2018 was an extraordinary event that created international shockwaves. The targeted man, former Russian agent Sergei Skripal, survived an brazen effort to kill him, but an innocent British citizen, a woman named Dawn Sturgess, lost her life. An public investigation was held last year, probing the poisoning of the Skripals, the actions of first responders, and the fatal sequence of events 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. Sturgess died on 8 July, while Rowley pulled through but has experienced ongoing health problems. Initially, police thought it might be a case of drug poisoning. Soon after, it became apparent they were victims with the chemical weapon Novichok. Sturgess sprayed herself 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 “illegal and outrageous international assassination attempt”.
Why Was a Vessel of Novichok Doing in the English Countryside?
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 living quietly in a suburb after a spy exchange. 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 approved the attack on Sergei Skripal. One theory offered is that Skripal harboured secret information about the Russian president’s alleged financial crimes involving revenue from the metals industry. There have also been indications that Skripal kept assisting western security agencies after his supposed retirement from espionage. In response to the attack, the UK government expelled 23 Russian diplomats.
What Form Did the Attack on Skripal Take?
British investigators believe a pair of operatives, using the aliases Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, smeared the nerve agent to the front-door handle of the Skripals’ house in the early afternoon on 4 March. When the Skripals left shortly afterwards to go out, they both touched the handle.
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 repackage the bottle during a unaccounted-for period when they disappeared from surveillance cameras 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, investigators lean toward the idea he came upon it shortly after the attack. Detectives found video evidence appearing to show Rowley looking through rubbish 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 very high purity and had the potential for mass casualties. A government scientist stated that a tiny quantity – comparable to a speck of salt – could have been fatal. After the poisonings, dozens of individuals 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.
Was Enough Done to Protect Sergei Skripal?
Sturgess’s family believes so. They assert that he was a “clear and obvious” target for Putin 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 After the Attack?
Again, Sturgess’s family holds this view. No official alerts about picking up containers that may have contained the poison 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 pick up objects near the scene in March. However, there is no record of such a warning. A public warning was only given after Sturgess was poisoned.
Regarding the Response of the Emergency Services?
The assessment is mixed. There were numerous acts of courage by emergency personnel. However, Wiltshire police has apologised for mistakenly labeling Sturgess as a drug user. 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 certain poisonings, after a fortunate accident. This intervention may have saved Skripal’s life.
The Russian Stance
The Russian embassy in the UK has claimed there are many “unanswered questions” around the poisoning. It highlights claims that the Skripals' vehicle was spotted out on the morning in question and that their phones were deactivated for a period of time. It also doubts the lack of CCTV around the Skripal house. British investigators have stated there have been a multitude of false leads in the case.
