Novichok Attacks, Russia's Alleged Role and UK Response: Central Issues of the Inquiry
The poisoning incident involving Novichok in Salisbury in the English countryside during the spring of 2018 was an extraordinary event that created international shockwaves. The intended victim, former Russian agent the ex-spy Sergei Skripal, recovered from an brazen effort to kill him, but an bystander, a woman named Dawn Sturgess, lost her life. An public investigation was conducted last year, examining the attack on the Skripals, the actions of first responders, and the tragic circumstances that ensnared Sturgess. Below are several central issues it delved into.
The Identity of Dawn Sturgess?
Dawn Sturgess was a 44-year-old mother of three. On June 30, 2018, she and her partner, Charlie Rowley, fell ill at his home in a Wiltshire town called Amesbury. Sturgess died on 8 July, while Rowley survived but has suffered ill health since. Initially, police believed it was a drugs overdose. Within days, it became clear they had been poisoned with the chemical weapon Novichok. Sturgess sprayed herself with the substance thinking it was a fragrance. Rowley is believed to have discovered a container of novichok made to look like perfume and presented it to Sturgess. The inquiry heard that Sturgess was caught âin the crossfireâ of an âillegal and outrageous international assassination attemptâ.
Why Was a Vessel of Novichok Doing in the English Countryside?
On 4 March 2018, former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia Skripal, were attacked with Novichok at his home in Salisbury, seven miles south of Amesbury. Skripal had been living quietly in a suburb after a prisoner swap. Both became gravely sick 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. 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 suggestions that Skripal continued to help western security agencies after his alleged retirement from espionage. In response to the attack, the UK government ordered out 23 Russian diplomats.
How Was the Attack on Skripal Carried Out?
British investigators believe a pair of operatives, using the aliases 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 soon after to go out, they both came into contact with it.
What Happened 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 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, investigators lean toward the idea 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 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 second container, which has never been found.
How Dangerous Was the Novichok?
The inquiry was told it was of very high purity and had the potential for mass casualties. A government scientist stated that a âminusculeâ amount â as small as a sixth of a grain of salt â could have been fatal. After the poisonings, dozens of individuals went to hospital 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?
Sturgessâs family believes so. They assert that he was a blatant 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 nerve agent were issued after the Skripal poisoning. The former top medical advisor, Dame Sally Davies, claimed she had a 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 public warning was only given after Sturgess was poisoned.
What About the Performance of First Responders?
The assessment is mixed. There were many instances of great bravery by emergency personnel. However, local authorities has apologised for mistakenly labeling Sturgess as a drug user. Rowley had a history, but Sturgess did not.
Was Skripal Lucky to Survive?
Without a doubt. A paramedic told the inquiry that he accidentally gave Skripal a specific antidote, a drug used for organophosphate poisoning, after a fortunate accident. This intervention may have saved 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 in question and that their mobiles were turned off 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 red herrings in the case.
