Inquiry Highlights Novichok's Lethal Potential and Risks

An inquiry into the 2018 death of Dawn Sturgess has revealed that the Novichok nerve agent in a perfume bottle, believed to be discarded by Russian agents, contained enough poison to kill thousands. Sturgess died after applying the substance, mistaking it for perfume, which had been left in a public place following an attempted assassination on former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury. Sturgess's partner, Charlie Rowley, found the bottle and unknowingly gifted it to her. The inquiry, led by Andrew O'Connor KC, aims to determine the circumstances surrounding the poisoning and the extent of Russian state responsibility. Russia has denied any involvement, although evidence suggests that the attack was orchestrated by Russian intelligence. The case highlights the risks posed by state-sponsored attacks and the need for effective security measures to prevent such incidents in the future.