Nerve Agent Attacks, Moscow's Involvement and UK Response: Central Issues of the Investigation
The poisoning incident involving Novichok in the city of Salisbury in the English countryside during the spring of 2018 was an unprecedented incident that sent shock waves across the world. The intended victim, former Russian agent Sergei Skripal, survived an audacious assassination attempt, but an innocent British citizen, Dawn Sturgess, tragically died. An official inquiry was held last year, examining the attack on the Skripals, the actions of first responders, and the fatal sequence of events that ensnared Sturgess. Below are several central issues it delved into.
Who Was Dawn Sturgess?
The victim, Dawn Sturgess was a 44-year-old woman with three children. On June 30, 2018, she and her partner, Charlie Rowley, became sick at his residence in a Wiltshire town called Amesbury. 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. Soon after, it became clear they had been poisoned with the nerve agent novichok. Sturgess sprayed herself with the novichok thinking it was a fragrance. Rowley is thought to have found a container of novichok disguised as a perfume bottle and presented it to Sturgess. The inquiry heard that Sturgess was an unintended casualty of an âillegal and outrageous international assassination attemptâ.
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 attacked with Novichok at his home in Salisbury, not far from Amesbury. Skripal had been settled in a suburban cul-de-sac after a prisoner swap. Both fell seriously ill but managed to survive.
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 presidentâs âcriminal embezzlementâ involving revenue from the metals industry. There have also been suggestions that Skripal kept assisting intelligence services in the West after his supposed 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 names Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, applied novichok to the exterior door handle of the Skripalsâ house in the early afternoon on 4 March. When the former spy and his daughter left shortly afterwards to go out, they both touched the handle.
What Happened With the Novichok Bottle Afterwards?
This remains a key unanswered question of the case. One suggestion is they may have used a small sealing device to reseal the container during a unaccounted-for period when they vanished from Salisbury CCTV and left it in a bin. Rowley stated he thought 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 that seems to depict Rowley searching bins in Salisbury on the fateful day. If this is accurate, 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 has never been found.
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 âminusculeâ amount â comparable to a speck of salt â could have been fatal. After the poisonings, 87 people self-presented at A&E worried about contamination. Several officers were contaminated, including DS Nick Bailey. Emergency services scrapped 24 vehicles they believed were tainted by the poison.
Should More Have Been Done to Protect Sergei Skripal?
The victim's relatives believes so. 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.
Should More Have Been Done to Protect the Public After the Attack?
Again, Sturgessâs 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, said she recalled âstrong recollectionâ of warning people not to touch items near the scene in March 2018. However, there is no documentation of such a statement. A alert was only given following the June incident.
Regarding the Response of the Emergency Services?
The record is varied. There were numerous acts of courage by paramedics, firefighters and police officers. However, local authorities has expressed regret for mistakenly labeling Sturgess as a user of illegal drugs. 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 atropine, a drug used for certain poisonings, after a fortunate accident. This intervention potentially rescued Skripalâs life.
What Have the Russians Said?
The Russian embassy in the UK has claimed there are many âunanswered questionsâ around the poisoning. It points to claims that the Skripals' vehicle was spotted out on the morning of 4 March and that their phones were deactivated 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.