A murder enquiry has been launched after the death of a British woman who was exposed to the deadly nerve agent Novichok, Scotland Yard has confirmed.
Dawn Sturgess, 44, died in hospital on Sunday, ten days after coming into contact with the toxic compound in Amesbury, Wiltshire.
She is survived by her three children.
Sturgess, along with her partner Charlie Rowley, 45, came into contact with an object contaminated with Novichok late last month.
Sturgess collapsed on June 30 and was rushed to hospital. Rowley was admitted shortly after.
Rowley remains in a critical condition.
Authorities are working to determine the exact source of the contamination, but it is believed Sturgess and Rowley encountered the same chemical weapon used to poison former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in March.
Yulia was discharged from hospital in late April, and her father was released a month afterwards.
Britain has accused Russia of deliberately poisoning Sergei, who was jailed by Russia between 2006 and 2010 for passing Russian intelligence to Britain’s MI6 spy agency.
Last week, British Home Secretary Sajid Javid said “It is now time that the Russian state comes forward and explains what has gone on.
“It is completely unacceptable for our people to be either deliberate or accidental targets, or for our streets, our parks and towns to be dumping grounds for poison.”
Russia has rigorously denied any connection to the poisoning of the Skripals.
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.
— Theresa May (@theresa_may) July 8, 2018
