2018 Amesbury poisonings explained

See also: Poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal.

2018 Amesbury poisonings
Location:Amesbury, Wiltshire, England
Date:30 June 2018
Fatalities:Dawn Sturgess
(8 July 2018, aged 44, after being admitted to hospital)
Injuries:Charlie Rowley
(45; admitted to hospital; discharged 20 July 2018)
Assailant:-->
Weapons:A-234 (suspected chemical weapon used)
Numpart:-->
Dfen:-->
Coroner:HM Coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon

On 30 June 2018, in Amesbury, two British nationals, Charlie Rowley and Dawn Sturgess, were admitted to Salisbury District Hospital in Wiltshire, England. Police determined that they were poisoned by a Novichok nerve agent of the same kind used in the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury, 8miles away, almost four months prior.[1] [2] [3] Sturgess died on 8 July, and Rowley regained consciousness two days later.

Hospital admissions and subsequent death of Sturgess

According to the subsequent press report released by the Metropolitan Police, at 10:15 on Saturday 30 June 2018, the South Western Ambulance Service was called to a residential address in Amesbury after Dawn Sturgess had collapsed. She was subsequently taken to hospital and admitted. At 15:30, the ambulance service was again called to that address, after Charlie Rowley had fallen ill. He was taken to hospital, and Wiltshire Police were informed of both admissions.

On 8 July, Sturgess died at Salisbury District Hospital after doctors took the decision to switch off her life support.[4] [5] On 10 July, Rowley regained consciousness and there was a "small but significant improvement to his condition" according to the hospital.[6] On 11 July, he was no longer in critical condition and the hospital downgraded his condition to "serious but stable". The same day, officers from the investigation team spoke with Rowley.[7] He told his brother Matthew the nerve agent had been in a small perfume or aftershave bottle, which they had found in a park about nine days before spraying themselves with it. The police later closed and fingertip-searched Queen Elizabeth Gardens, a riverside park in central Salisbury, which the couple had visited the day before they fell ill.[8] The funeral of Sturgess took place at Salisbury crematorium on 30 July 2018.[9]

On 20 July, Rowley was discharged from the hospital.[10] Over the weekend of 18/19 August 2018, he was re-admitted to hospital with sight problems.[11] On 4 September 2018 he was reported to be ill with meningitis but was expected to leave hospital "within a month".[12]

Investigation

The incident was investigated by the Specialist Operations Directorate of the Metropolitan Police, assisted nationally by the National Counter Terrorism Policing Network and locally by Wiltshire Police, in a multi-agency response named Operation Fortis.[13] According to the Metropolitan Police, there was nothing in either of the victims' backgrounds to suggest that they were deliberately targeted, and there were no other reports of people presenting with similar symptoms. The couple was believed to have been near the roads that were sealed off during the investigation of the Skripal poisoning in Salisbury.[14]

During initial assessment, medical staff believed that the patients' illness was caused by the use of contaminated illegal drugs. But on 2 July, hospital staff had concerns over the symptoms the couple were displaying, and sent samples from both patients to the Government's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) at Porton Down for analysis. On 4 July the laboratory confirmed that the patients had been exposed to the Novichok nerve agent.[2] [15]

According to BBC News, the "most likely hypothesis" was that the Novichok was left over from the attack on the Skripals, and that the contaminated item which poisoned the couple "could be a vial or syringe because of the couple's lifestyle", as it was believed the Novichok was disposed of "in a haphazard way".[16] Friends of the couple told The Guardian that Rowley frequently scavenged recycling bins for objects that he could sell, and that the couple's houses contained "loads of household things" they had picked up.[17]

Sites in both Amesbury and Salisbury which were believed to have been visited by the couple were cordoned off. These included the local Boots Pharmacy, the Baptist Centre, and Muggleton Road in Amesbury, and Queen Elizabeth Gardens in Salisbury.[15] Local residents were warned of an increased police presence, including officers wearing protective equipment.[15]

On 6 July, police announced that officers had identified and spoken to several key witnesses and were reviewing more than 1,300 hours of CCTV footage which has been collected so far.[18]

On 13 July a police cordon closed the north end of Rollestone Street, Salisbury to enable members of the Counter Terrorism Policing Network to search John Baker House, a hostel for the homeless where Dawn Sturgess lived. On 24 July the cordon was lifted and the police announced that no contamination was found in the hostel.[19]

The Metropolitan Police announced on 13 July 2018[20] [21] that they had identified the source of the nerve agent that poisoned Sturgess and Rowley as being a "small bottle" discovered at Rowley's house in Amesbury, which was confirmed by analysis at DSTL Porton Down to contain Novichok. Matthew Rowley, brother of the victim, said Charlie told him that he had picked up "the perfume bottle". The Metropolitan Police refused to confirm this claim.[22]

Also on 13 July, the intergovernmental Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) received a request from the UK for technical assistance on the incident in Amesbury. The OPCW sent a team of specialists who collected samples and sent them to two laboratories. By 18 July, preliminary work was completed and the team left the UK.[23]

On 7 August 2018, the Foreign Office announced that OPCW experts would return to Amesbury to collect further samples. A spokesman said: "During their visit, the OPCW's experts will collect more samples to inform their work following their visit in July. The samples will be analysed at highly reputable international laboratories designated by the OPCW."[24] The poison was confirmed on 4 September by the OPCW to be the same kind of nerve agent as that used on the Skripals, but the OPCW also said that it could not determine if it was from the same batch.[25]

On 5 September 2018, Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said the police had "no doubt" that this incident was connected to the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal. He said, "we do not believe Dawn and Charlie were deliberately targeted, but became victims as a result of the recklessness in which such a toxic nerve agent was disposed of."[26] On the same date, the Metropolitan Police released a detailed description of the Salisbury poisoning and named Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov as the suspects wanted.[27] The announcement went on to state that the investigation into the Amesbury poisoning was ongoing by the Police and the Crown Prosecution Service, and further charges relating to Sturgess and Rowley would follow.[28]

Inquest

The inquest for Sturgess was opened and adjourned by HM Coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon in Salisbury on 19 July 2018, with a Pre-Inquest Review listed for 16 January 2019.[29] [30] This was delayed, in part because the Crown Prosecution Service requested a suspension in view of the ongoing criminal investigation.[31] The Senior Coroner, David Ridley, issued a 31-page ruling on the scope of the inquest on 20 December 2019, but no date for the full inquest was given.[32] A preliminary hearing was held in March 2023. The UK government said that the delay in conducting the inquest was due to its desire to redact evidence to protect national security. Sturgess' family expressed disappointment at the delay and requested that the government release some of the material related to Sturgess' death. The start date for the inquiry was set as 14 October 2024.[33]

Government response

On 5 July 2018, Home Secretary Sajid Javid chaired a meeting of the COBR committee to discuss the incident.[34] In the House of Commons later that day, Javid stated the most likely hypothesis was that the Novichok was in an item discarded after the Skripal attack. He accused Russia of using Britain as a "dumping ground for poison".[35]

Interview with Rowley

Rowley gave an interview to ITV News on 24 July 2018, stating that he believed a sealed box of a recognisable brand of perfume, which he had found and given to Sturgess, was the source of the Novichok. His partner became sick "within 15 minutes" of spraying the "oily substance" onto her wrists before rubbing them together, under the assumption that it was perfume.[36] [37] [38] He also stated that he came into contact with the chemical agent after some tipped onto his hands while attaching the plastic spray dispenser to the bottle, but had washed his hands soon after. They had used a knife to open the sealed packaging.[36] [37]

Fate of flat

In June 2020 it was announced that the flat the poisonings happened in, together with the one below it, would be demolished.[39] Both Dawn Sturgess’ family and partner supported the demolition and liked the idea of it being turned into a green space.[39] Dawn's father, Stan Sturgess, said "It’s a shame that it is being lost but I can imagine that people wouldn’t want to live there."[39] Rowley said "I think it's for the best. There would always be a stigma around it."[39]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Two collapse near spy poisoning site . BBC News . 4 July 2018 . 4 July 2018 . 4 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180704021928/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-44707052 . live .
  2. News: Amesbury pair poisoned by Novichok . 4 July 2018 . BBC News . 8 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180908003115/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-44716597/amesbury-pair-poisoned-by-novichok . live .
  3. Web site: Amesbury substance: Paramedics wore hazmat suits . Sky News . 4 July 2018 . 4 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180704191208/https://news.sky.com/story/amesbury-substance-paramedics-wore-hazmat-suits-11426351 . live .
  4. Web site: UPDATE: Woman dies following exposure to nerve agent in Amesbury. Metropolitan Police. 8 July 2018. 31 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180731163831/http://news.met.police.uk/news/update-woman-dies-following-exposure-to-nerve-agent-in-amesbury-313621. dead.
  5. News: Novichok victim's sister recalls 'goodbye'. BBC News. 19 July 2018. 24 July 2018. 25 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180725004600/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-44882793. live.
  6. Web site: Man poisoned by novichok regains consciousness. Steven. Morris. Caroline. Bannock. 10 July 2018. the Guardian. 10 July 2018. 10 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180710085804/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/10/nerve-agent-poisoning-inquiry-spreads-to-swindon-car-seized-dawn-sturgess. live.
  7. Web site: Amesbury novichok victim 'reveals doctors feared he would die'. Morris. Steven. Dodd. Vikram. 11 July 2018. the Guardian. en. 15 July 2018. 13 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180713194145/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/11/novichok-victim-charlie-rowley-speaks-to-police-nerve-agent. live.
  8. Web site: Novichok poisonings: police search Salisbury park visited by couple . The Guardian . Steven Morris . 18 July 2018 . 18 July 2018 . 18 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180718151523/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/18/novichok-poisonings-police-search-salisbury-park-visited-by-couple . live .
  9. Web site: Amesbury poisoning: 'Very emotional' funeral held for novichok victim Dawn Sturgess. 7 August 2018. 31 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180731121243/https://news.sky.com/story/amesbury-poisoning-very-emotional-funeral-held-for-novichok-victim-dawn-sturgess-11454543. live.
  10. News: Novichok victim Charlie Rowley discharged from Salisbury hospital three weeks after poisoning. Jamie. Bullen. The Telegraph. 20 July 2018. 24 July 2018. www.telegraph.co.uk. 24 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180724231856/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/07/20/novichok-victim-charlie-rowley-discharged-salisbury-hospital/. live.
  11. Web site: Novichok victim back in hospital with sight problems, says brother. Morris. Steven. 20 August 2018. The Guardian. en. 22 August 2018. 21 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180821160530/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/20/novichok-victim-back-in-hospital-with-sight-problems-says-brother. live.
  12. Web site: Novichok victim Charlie Rowley 'feeling positive' and 'hoping to get out of hospital in next two or three weeks'. 4 September 2018. 5 September 2018. 5 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180905053152/http://www.itv.com/news/2018-09-04/charlie-rowley-tells-itv-news-he-is-feeling-positive-and-hoping-to-get-out-of-hospital-in-next-two-or-three-weeks/. live.
  13. Web site: Annual Board statement by the Accountable Emergency Officer. Marlow. Jeremy. 27 September 2018. NHS Improvement. 10 March 2020. 8 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210308052759/https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/BM1862_AEO_Annual_Statement.pdf. live.
  14. News: Amesbury incident latest: Wiltshire couple were exposed to novichok nerve agent, police confirm . Agerholm . Harriet . The Independent . 4 July 2018 . 5 July 2018 . 5 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180705025619/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/amesbury-poisoning-latest-novichock-metropolitan-police-neil-basu-professor-dame-sally-davies-a8431916.html . live .
  15. News: Wiltshire pair poisoned by Novichok nerve agent . 4 July 2018 . BBC News . 5 July 2018 . 4 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180704205634/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44719639 . live .
  16. News: Poisoned pair 'handled contaminated item'. 5 July 2018. BBC News. 5 July 2018. en-GB. 5 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180705135251/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44727191. live.
  17. News: Bannock . Caroline . Dodd . Vikram . Morris . Steven . Novichok poisonings: search intensifying to find contaminated item . 6 July 2018 . The Guardian . 6 July 2018 . 6 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180706194922/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/06/novichok-poisonings-search-contaminated-item-wiltshire . live .
  18. Web site: Updated statement re: Amesbury. 6 July 2018 . Metropolitan Police . https://web.archive.org/web/20180713201417/http://news.met.police.uk/news/updated-statement-re-amesbury-313519 . 13 July 2018 . dead .
  19. News: No contamination found at John Baker House in Salisbury . 24 July 2018 . Spire FM . 28 July 2018 . 28 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180728221442/https://www.spirefm.co.uk/news/local-news/2641362/no-contamination-found-at-john-baker-house-in-salisbury/ . live .
  20. News: UPDATE: Source of nerve agent contamination identified. 13 July 2018. Metropolitan Police. 19 July 2018. en. 17 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180717064952/http://news.met.police.uk/news/update-source-of-nerve-agent-contamination-identified-314322. dead.
  21. News: Dodd . Vikram . Morris . Steven . Novichok that killed woman came from bottle, police believe . 13 July 2018 . The Guardian . 13 July 2018 . en . 13 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180713171525/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/13/novichok-that-killed-woman-came-from-bottle-police-believe . live .
  22. Web site: Amesbury: Novichok found in perfume bottle, says victim's brother. BBC News. 16 July 2018. 15 July 2018. 15 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180715234710/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44839805. live.
  23. Web site: OPCW Provides Technical Assistance for Amesbury, UK Incident . Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons . 2 August 2018 . 18 July 2018 . 29 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180729043340/https://www.opcw.org/news/article/opcw-provides-technical-assistance-for-amesbury-uk-incident/ . live .
  24. Web site: Chemical weapons inspectors returning to UK to gather new novichok samples. Independent.co.uk. 7 August 2018. 7 August 2018. 7 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180807233408/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/amesbury-novichok-salisbury-chemical-weapons-inspectors-samples-testing-opcw-a8481591.html. live.
  25. News: Nerve agent used on Skripals 'same one that killed Dawn Sturgess' . 4 September 2018 . South China Morning Post . 5 September 2018 . 4 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180904205512/https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/2162784/chemical-weapons-watchdog-confirms-nerve-agent-novichok-killed . live .
  26. News: Tobin . Olivia . Novichok poisoning probe: Police say there is 'no doubt' Novichok victims are linked and Charlie Rowley and Dawn Sturgess were innocent tragic victims . Evening Standard . 5 September 2018 . 5 September 2018 . 6 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180906015705/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/novichok-poisoning-probe-police-say-there-is-no-doubt-novichok-victims-are-linked-and-charlie-rowley-a3928426.html . live .
  27. News: Investigative Team . Bellingcat . Full report: Skripal Poisoning Suspect Dr. Alexander Mishkin, Hero of Russia . 31 December 2023 . 9 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181009145126/https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-europe/2018/10/09/full-report-skripal-poisoning-suspect-dr-alexander-mishkin-hero-russia/ . live .
  28. Web site: 5 September 2018. Counter-terrorism police release images of two suspects in connection with Salisbury attack. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180927051828/http://news.met.police.uk/news/counter-terrorism-police-release-images-of-two-suspects-in-connection-with-salisbury-attack-320534. 27 September 2018. 6 September 2018. Metropolitan Police.
  29. Web site: Dawn Sturgess inquest opens in Salisbury . Hudson . Rebecca . 19 July 2018 . Salisbury Journal . https://web.archive.org/web/20180719173957/http://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/16364797.dawn-sturgess-inquest-opens-in-salisbury/ . 19 July 2018 . 19 July 2018.
  30. Web site: Inquest into Novichok victim Dawn Sturgess opened . Tryhorn . Faye . 19 July 2018 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20180721184547/https://www.spirefm.co.uk/news/local-news/2637307/inquest-into-novichok-victim-dawn-sturgess-opened/ . 21 July 2018 . 21 July 2018.
  31. Web site: The Inquest touching upon the death of Dawn Kelly Sturgess: Scope Ruling . Ridley . David . 20 December 2019 . Wiltshire Council . 10 March 2020 . 2 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210302204428/https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/media/3904/Scope-ruling-Sturgess-20-December-2019/pdf/Scope-ruling-sturgess-20-december-20191.pdf . live .
  32. News: Morris . Steven . Dawn Sturgess death from novichok: duty to protect public 'not breached' says coroner . 14 January 2020 . The Guardian . 10 March 2020 . 0261-3077 . 15 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200115130541/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jan/14/dawn-sturgess-death-novichock-public-safety-duty-not-breached-says-coroner . live .
  33. Web site: Morris . Steven . Bannock . Caroline . Inquiry into novichok death of Dawn Sturgess to begin in autumn 2024 . The Guardian . 26 June 2023 . 3 April 2023.
  34. News: Amesbury poisoning – LIVE: Government to hold emergency Cobra meeting after novichok nerve agent leaves Wiltshire couple fighting for their life . 5 July 2018 . Independent . 5 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180705101432/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/amesbury-poisoning-live-updates-novichok-nerve-agent-wiltshire-latest-dawn-sturgess-charlie-rowley-a8432186.html . live .
  35. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44727191 "Amesbury poisoning: Russia using UK as 'dumping ground"
  36. News: Exclusive: Novichok poisoning victim Charlie Rowley reveals perfume gift he gave to partner contained deadly nerve agent . Evelyn . Rupert . ITV News . 24 July 2018 . 25 July 2018 . 25 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180725003103/http://www.itv.com/news/2018-07-24/charlie-rowley-novichok-amesbury/ . live .
  37. News: Novichok victim found substance disguised as perfume in sealed box . Steven Morris . Kevin Rawlinson . The Guardian . 24 July 2018 . 25 July 2018 . 25 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180725014051/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/24/novichok-victim-ill-within-15-minutes-says-partner-charlie-rowley . live .
  38. News: Novichok: Victim found poison bottle in branded box . BBC News . 24 July 2018 . 25 July 2018 . 24 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180724212249/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44947162 . live .
  39. News: Wiltshire flat where novichok victim fell ill to be demolished. Morris. Steven. 9 June 2020. 14 July 2020. The Guardian. 14 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200714205026/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jun/09/wiltshire-flat-novichok-demolished-dawn-sturgess. live.

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