Nerve Agent Poisonings, Russia's Alleged Role and UK Response: Key Questions of the Inquiry
The Novichok nerve agent attack in the city of Salisbury in the English countryside during the spring of 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 innocent British citizen, Dawn Sturgess, lost her life. An official inquiry was held last year, probing the poisoning of the Skripals, the actions of first responders, and the tragic circumstances that ensnared Sturgess. Below are several central issues it explored.
The Identity of Dawn Sturgess?
The victim, Dawn Sturgess was a 44-year-old woman with three children. On 30 June 2018, she and her boyfriend, Charlie Rowley, became sick at his residence in Amesbury, Wiltshire. Sturgess died on 8 July, 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 clear they had been poisoned with the nerve agent novichok. Sturgess sprayed herself with the substance believing it was perfume. Rowley is thought to have found 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 “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 managed to survive.
What Was the Motive for Targeting the Skripals?
The British authorities are convinced that 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 profits from metals production. There have also been indications that Skripal continued to help western security agencies after his alleged retirement from espionage. In the aftermath, the UK government expelled 23 Russian diplomats.
How Was the Attack on Skripal Take?
British investigators believe two Russian agents, using the aliases Petrov and Boshirov, smeared the nerve agent to the exterior door handle of the Skripals’ house in the early afternoon 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 central mystery of the case. A theory is they may have used a small sealing device to reseal the container during a “missing 33 minutes” when they vanished from Salisbury CCTV and discarded it in a trash can. 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 video evidence appearing to show Rowley searching bins 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 another vessel, which remains missing.
The Lethality of 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 tiny quantity – as small as a sixth of a grain of salt – might have caused death. After the poisonings, dozens of individuals self-presented at A&E worried about exposure. Several officers were affected, including Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey. Emergency services disposed of two dozen vehicles they feared had come into contact with the poison.
Should More Have Been Done to Protect Sergei Skripal?
The victim's relatives believes so. They contend that he was a “clear and obvious” target for the Russian state but was provided with little protection in Salisbury. Skripal is reportedly declined security measures, including simple surveillance.
Should More Have Been Done to Protect the Public After the Attack?
Again, Sturgess’s family holds this view. No public warnings about handling suspicious items that may have contained nerve agent were issued after the Skripal poisoning. The former chief medical officer for England, Dame Sally Davies, said she recalled clear memory of warning people not to pick up objects near the scene in March 2018. However, there is no documentation of such a warning. A alert was only given after Sturgess was poisoned.
Regarding the Performance of First Responders?
The record is varied. There were many instances of great bravery by emergency personnel. However, local authorities has expressed regret for mistakenly labeling Sturgess as a user of illegal drugs. Rowley had a history, but Sturgess was not.
Was Skripal Lucky to Survive?
Absolutely. A paramedic told the inquiry that he inadvertently administered Skripal atropine, a drug used for organophosphate poisoning, after knocking over a drugs bag. 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 of 4 March 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 false leads in the case.
