Novichok Attacks, Moscow's Involvement and British Reaction: Key Questions of the Inquiry
The poisoning incident involving Novichok in the city of Salisbury in the English countryside during the spring of 2018 was an unprecedented incident that created international shockwaves. The targeted man, former Russian agent the ex-spy Sergei Skripal, recovered from an brazen effort to kill him, but an innocent British citizen, a woman named Dawn Sturgess, lost her life. An official inquiry was conducted last year, examining the poisoning of the Skripals, the response of emergency services, and the tragic circumstances that led to Sturgess's death. Below are some of the key questions it delved into.
Who Was Dawn Sturgess?
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 a Wiltshire town called Amesbury. Sturgess died on 8 July, while Rowley pulled through but has suffered ill health since. Initially, police believed it was a case of drug poisoning. Within days, 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 vessel containing the agent 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 South-West England?
On 4 March 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 British authorities 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 alleged financial crimes involving profits from metals production. There have also been indications that Skripal kept assisting western security agencies 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 names Petrov and Boshirov, applied novichok to the front-door handle of the Skripals’ house between noon and 12.15pm on March 4. When the Skripals left soon after to go out, they both touched the handle.
What Did the Agents Do With the Container of Novichok Afterwards?
This remains a key unanswered question 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 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 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 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.
The Lethality of the Novichok?
The inquiry was told it was of exceptional potency and could have killed thousands. A expert witness stated that a “minuscule” amount – as small as a sixth of a grain of salt – could have been fatal. After the poisonings, 87 people self-presented at A&E worried about contamination. Three police officers were contaminated, including Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey. Emergency services scrapped 24 vehicles they believed were tainted by the poison.
Was Enough Done to Protect Sergei Skripal?
Sturgess’s family argues no. They contend that he was a blatant target for the Russian state but was provided with little protection 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 public warnings 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 “strong recollection” of warning people not to pick up objects near the scene in March 2018. However, there is no documentation of such a warning. A public warning was only given following the June incident.
Regarding the Response of the Emergency Services?
The assessment is mixed. There were many instances of great bravery by paramedics, firefighters and police officers. However, local authorities has apologised for wrongly categorising Sturgess as a drug user. Rowley was known to use drugs, but Sturgess did not.
Was Skripal Lucky to Survive?
Without a doubt. 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 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 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. British investigators have stated there have been hundreds, if not thousands of red herrings in the case.
