Novichok kills Amesbury woman as police launch murder inquiry
THE Novichok poisoning in Salisbury claimed its first victim last night when Dawn Sturgess died eight days after coming into contact with the Russian nerve agent.
Police are treating the death of the 44-year-old mother of three as murder, describing the tragedy as “the day we hoped would never come”.
Theresa May said she was “appalled and shocked” by Ms Sturgess’s death, while Sajid Javid, the Home Secretary, said he was “determined” the killers would be caught.
Neil Basu, Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, described it as “an outrageous, reckless and barbaric act”. Mr Basu, the head of UK counter-terrorism policing, said the death of Ms Sturgess in Salisbury District Hospital “has only served to strengthen our resolve” to bring the killer or killers to justice.
He said: “Detectives will continue with their painstaking and meticulous work to gather all the available
evidence so that we can understand how two citizens came to be exposed with such a deadly substance that tragically cost Dawn her life.”
Ms Sturgess and her boyfriend Charlie Rowley, 45, who remains critically ill, are thought to have handled a discarded container that was used to transport the weapons-grade nerve agent which had been used in the attempted murder of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in March.
The death of a member of the public who became the innocent victim of a Russian state murder plot will widen the diplomatic rift between London and Moscow, which had already reached a new low following the original Salisbury attack.
British diplomat Julian King, the European Commissioner responsible for the EU’S security union, said: “Those behind this are murderers.”
Kier Pritchard, Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police, expressed his condolences to Ms Sturgess’s family and said: “I cannot begin to imagine the pain and suffering they must be feeling, coupled with all the questions they need answers to.”
Mrs May said: “I am appalled and shocked by the death of Dawn Sturgess, and my thoughts and condolences go to her family and loved ones. Police and security officials are working urgently to establish the facts of this incident, which is now being investigated as a murder.
“The Government is committed to providing full support to the local community as it deals with this tragedy.”
Ms Sturgess and Mr Rowley are believed
to have picked up a container in a park in Amesbury, Wilts, on June 30, that contained the Novichok used to attack former Russian spy Mr Skripal and his daugher, both of whom recovered after being treated in the same hospital where Ms Sturgess died last night.
The attack on the Skripals led to titfor-tat expulsions of dozens of diplomats and suspected spies from London and Moscow.
Mr Javid, who had accused Russia of using British parks as “dumping grounds for poison”, visited Wiltshire yesterday to see for himself how the investigation was progressing, to thank police and hospital staff, and to show that Salisbury and Amesbury remained open for business.
Dr Christine Blanshard, medical director at Salisbury District Hospital, said the news was “desperately sad” and she expressed condolences to Ms Sturgess’s family.
She said: “The staff here at Salisbury District Hospital worked tirelessly to save Dawn. Our staff are talented, dedicated and professional and I know today they will be hurting too. They did everything they could.”
Angus Macpherson, Wiltshire police and crime commissioner, said he was “horrified and appalled”.
He said: “Ms Sturgess was an innocent member of the public who should have been able to go about her daily life without becoming an unwilling victim in such an unprecedented, international, incident.”
A post-mortem examination of Ms Sturgess, from Durrington, is due to take place and her family has been informed, police said.