Amesbury Novichok poisoning: Murder probe launched following death of woman exposed to nerve agent

Police have launched a murder investigation after a mother-of-three died when she and her partner were exposed to the nerve agent Novichok.

Dawn Sturgess, 44, died in hospital on Sunday evening, while her partner Charlie Rowley, 45, is still in a critical condition after the couple fell ill in Amesbury, Wiltshire, last Saturday.

The murder investigation is the second major probe involving the nerve agent this year, following the case of Sergei and Yulia Skripal, who were left critically ill in March. Both have recovered.

Tests have revealed that Ms Sturgess and Mr Rowley were exposed to the nerve agent after touching a contaminated item with their hands.

The possibility that the two investigations might be linked is ‘clearly a key line of inquiry for police’, the Met said.

Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu described Ms Sturgess’s death as ‘shocking and tragic news’ and said the force’s thoughts were with the families of both victims.

He added: ‘This terrible news has only served to strengthen our resolve to identify and bring to justice the person or persons responsible for what I can only describe as an outrageous, reckless and barbaric act.

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‘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’s family are being given support by specialist officers and have asked for privacy.

Prime Minister Theresa May said she was ‘appalled and shocked’, and sent her ‘thoughts and condolences’ to the family.

She added: ‘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.’

Dr Christine Blanshard, from Salisbury District Hospital where Ms Sturgess was treated, described her death as ‘desperately sad’ and sent her condolences to the family.

She added: ‘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.’

A post-mortem examination will be scheduled to take place in due course.

Public Health England (PHE) said their assessment ‘remains that the overall risk to the general public remains low’.

PHE director Paul Cosford said: ‘As a precaution we still advise the public not to pick up any strange items such as needles, syringes or unusual containers.’

The second nerve agent emergency in four months prompted a diplomatic row, with Home Secretary Sajid Javid accusing the Russian state of using Britain as a ‘dumping ground for poison’.

The Russian Embassy hit back, accusing the Government of trying to ‘muddy the waters’ and ‘frighten its own citizens’.

Mr Javid, who visited Wiltshire on Sunday, said Ms Sturgess’s death ‘only strengthens our resolve to find out exactly what has happened’.