Novichok poisonings, Russia's role and UK response: key questions of inquiry

"The novichok attack on Salisbury in south-west England in March 2018 was an extraordinary event, sending shock waves across the world. The targeted man, the former Russian agent Sergei Skripal, recovered from an audacious assassination attempt, but an innocent British citizen, Dawn Sturgess, died. An inquiry was heard in Salisbury and London last year investigating the attack on the Skripals, the response of the emergency services and other public bodies, and how Sturgess was tragically caught up in an international incident."

"Sturgess was a 44-year-old mother of three. On 30 June 2018, she and her boyfriend, Charlie Rowley, fell ill at his home in Amesbury, Wiltshire. Sturgess died on 8 July, while Rowley survived but has suffered ill health since. At first police believe it had been a drugs overdose. Within a few days it became clear they had been poisoned with the nerve agent novichok."

"Sturgess sprayed herself with novichok believing it was perfume. Rowley is thought to have found a container of novichok disguised as a perfume bottle and given it to his partner. The inquiry heard Sturgess was caught in the crossfire of an illegal and outrageous international assassination attempt. On 4 March 2018, the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia Skripal, were poisoned by novichok at his home in Salisbury, seven miles south of Amesbury."

On 4 March 2018, former Russian agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with the nerve agent novichok at his Salisbury home. Skripal and Yulia fell seriously ill but survived. On 30 June 2018, Dawn Sturgess and her boyfriend Charlie Rowley were exposed in Amesbury after Rowley found a container disguised as a perfume bottle. Sturgess sprayed herself and later died; Rowley survived with long-term ill health. The UK government believes Vladimir Putin authorised the assassination attempt. One motive offered is Skripal's alleged possession of secret information about embezzlement from metals production. An inquiry examined the attacks and emergency responses.

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