Novichok Attacks, Russia's Alleged Role and British Reaction: 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, recovered from an audacious assassination attempt, but an innocent British citizen, Dawn Sturgess, lost her life. An official inquiry was held last year, examining the poisoning of the Skripals, the response of emergency services, and the fatal sequence of events that ensnared Sturgess. Below are several central issues it explored.
The Identity of Dawn Sturgess?
The victim, Dawn Sturgess was a 44-year-old mother of three. On June 30, 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 suffered ill health since. Initially, police believed it was a case of drug poisoning. Within days, it became apparent they were victims with the nerve agent novichok. It is believed Sturgess applied with the substance thinking it was a fragrance. 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 an unintended casualty of an âillegal and outrageous international assassination attemptâ.
What Was a Container 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, seven miles south of Amesbury. Skripal had been settled in a suburban cul-de-sac after a prisoner swap. Both fell seriously ill but managed to survive.
Why Were the Skripals Targeted?
The UK government believe that Vladimir Putin authorised the assassination attempt on Sergei Skripal. One theory offered is that Skripal harboured secret information about the Russian presidentâs 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 ordered out 23 Russian diplomats.
What Form Did the Attack on Skripal Carried Out?
British investigators believe two Russian agents, using the names Petrov and Boshirov, smeared the nerve agent to the front-door handle of the Skripalsâ house between noon and 12.15pm on March 4. 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 small sealing device to reseal the container during a âmissing 33 minutesâ when they disappeared from surveillance cameras 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 found it shortly after the attack. Detectives found video evidence that seems to depict Rowley searching bins in Salisbury on the fateful day. If that is correct, Rowley had the bottle for more than 90 days and even moved home with it. Yet, police have not categorically dismissed 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 expert witness stated that a tiny quantity â as small as a sixth of a grain of salt â could have been fatal. After the poisonings, 87 people self-presented at A&E worried about exposure. Several officers were affected, including DS Nick Bailey. Emergency services disposed of two dozen vehicles they believed were tainted by the poison.
Should More Have Been Done to Protect Sergei Skripal?
The victim's relatives believes so. They assert that he was a âclear and obviousâ target for the Russian state but was provided with little protection in Salisbury. Skripal is reportedly declined security measures, including simple surveillance.
Could More Have Been Done to Protect the Public After the Attack?
Again, Sturgessâs family holds this view. No official alerts about picking up containers that may have contained the poison were issued after the Skripal poisoning. The former chief medical officer for England, Dame Sally Davies, claimed she had a âstrong recollectionâ of warning people not to pick up objects near the scene in March 2018. However, there is no documentation of such a statement. A public warning was only given following the June incident.
What About the Response of the Emergency Services?
The record is varied. There were numerous acts of courage by emergency personnel. However, local authorities has expressed regret for mistakenly labeling Sturgess as a user of illegal drugs. Rowley was known to use drugs, but Sturgess was not.
Did Skripal Have Luck to Survive?
Without a doubt. A first responder told the inquiry that he inadvertently administered Skripal atropine, a drug used for certain poisonings, after a fortunate accident. This intervention potentially rescued Skripalâs life.
What Have the Russians Said?
The Moscow's diplomatic mission has claimed there are many âunanswered questionsâ around the poisoning. It highlights claims that Skripalâs car was seen out on the morning in question and that their mobiles were turned off 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.
