Novichok 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 unprecedented incident that sent shock waves across the world. The targeted man, former Russian agent Sergei Skripal, recovered from an audacious assassination attempt, but an bystander, a woman named Dawn Sturgess, tragically died. An official inquiry 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.
The Identity of Dawn Sturgess?
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 a Wiltshire town called Amesbury. Sturgess died on 8 July, while Rowley pulled through but has experienced ongoing health problems. Initially, police believed it was a drugs overdose. Soon after, it became clear they had been poisoned with the nerve agent novichok. Sturgess sprayed herself with the novichok believing it was perfume. Rowley is believed to have discovered a container of novichok disguised as a perfume bottle 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 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 managed to survive.
Why Were the Skripals Targeted?
The UK government believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised the assassination attempt on Sergei Skripal. A suggested motive offered is that Skripal harboured secret information about the Russian president’s “criminal embezzlement” involving revenue from the metals industry. There have also been indications that Skripal continued to help western security agencies after his supposed retirement from espionage. In the aftermath, the UK government ordered out 23 Russian diplomats.
What Form Did the Attack on Skripal Take?
British investigators 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 between noon and 12.15pm on March 4. When the former spy and his daughter left shortly afterwards to go out, they both came into contact with it.
What Did the Agents Do With the Container of Novichok Afterwards?
This remains a central mystery of the case. A theory is they may have used a portable heat sealer to repackage the bottle during a “missing 33 minutes” when they vanished from Salisbury CCTV and discarded it in a trash can. 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 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 over three months 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 exceptional potency and could have killed thousands. A government scientist stated that a “minuscule” amount – as small as a sixth of a grain of salt – could have been fatal. After the poisonings, 87 people went to hospital worried about contamination. Several officers were contaminated, including DS Nick Bailey. Emergency services disposed of two dozen 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 “clear and obvious” target for Putin but was given insufficient security in Salisbury. Skripal is said to have refused security measures, including simple surveillance.
Should More Have Been Done to Protect the Public Following the Incident?
Similarly, Sturgess’s family holds this view. No public warnings about picking up containers that may have contained nerve agent 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 alert 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 paramedics, firefighters and police officers. However, local authorities has apologised for wrongly categorising Sturgess as a user of illegal drugs. 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 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 of 4 March and that their phones were deactivated for four hours. It also doubts 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.
