Never-before-seen CCTV footage of the Salisbury Novichok attack reveals the moment a former Russian spy innocently handed bread to a child after being poisoned with the deadly nerve agent.
Grainy images show former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia happily strolling around the city on March 4, 2018 – utterly unaware they had just been targeted with one of the deadliest chemical weapons known to man.
Mr Skripal is believed to have come into contact with Novichok after it was smeared on the doorknob of his home in a quiet cul-de-sac in the Wiltshire city, allegedly on the orders of Vladimir Putin.
The new CCTV shows the father and daughter visiting a pub and a Zizzi’s restaurant before they are later seen slumped on a park bench after succumbing to the poison – which tragically killed mother of three Dawn Sturgess.
An inquiry into the 44-year-old’s death yesterday heard how Ms Sturgess was inadvertently caught ‘in the crossfire of an illegal, outrageous international assassination attempt’ which could have killed thousands more.
CCTV shows former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia happily strolling around Salisbury on March 4, 2018 – utterly unaware they had been poisoned with Novichok. This image was taken at 3.35pm on March 4
1.15PM, MARCH 4: The former Russian spy holds his head as he begins to feel the affects of the poison
1.42PM – 1.45PM: Mr Skripal is seen handing bread to a child to feed the ducks with
JUNE 29: Other CCTV images showed Dawn Sturgess enjoying a day of shopping in Salisbury. She was poisoned a day later and died on July 8
Two GRU spies – who travelled under the names Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov – were charged in 2018 with the attempted murder of the Skripals and the poisoning of two Wiltshire Police officers, but not over the death of Ms Sturgess.
Chillingly, CCTV evidence suggested the pair may have crossed paths with the Skripals near their home as they drove to the city centre for some food early in the afternoon of March 4.
The Skripals are later seen feeding the ducks in the city centre before visiting the Bishop’s Mill pub. After leaving the venue they sat on a park bench, where they were later found critically ill.
Petrov and Boshirov are believed to have wiped Novichok on Mr Skripal’s doorknob before dumping the substance in Salisbury inside a fake bottle of Nina Ricci perfume.
More than three months later, it was discovered by Ms Sturgess’ boyfriend Charlie Rowley, who gave it to her as a gift on June 30.
She fell desperately ill after spraying the substance on her body and died in hospital, while Mr Rowley was seriously hurt.
CCTV shows Ms Sturgess enjoying a day out shopping in Salisbury on June 29 – the day before she was poisoned. She succumbed to the poison in hospital on July 8.
A public inquiry into Ms Sturgess’ death heard she was the only one of potentially thousands who could have been killed in the botched assassination attempt.
Her family wants the hearing to investigate if the UK authorities did enough to protect the public by staving off the threat of an attack on Mr Skripal, 73, and his daughter Yulia, 39.
1.45PM: The Skripals walk into the Bishop’s Mill pub in Salisbury
2.15PM: The father and daughter leave the Bishop’s Mill
3.37pm – 4.15pm: The pair on a bench where they began to fall ill from the highly toxic substance
Andrew O’Connor, lead counsel for the inquiry at Salisbury Guildhall, said: ‘The evidence will suggest this bottle, which we shall hear contained enough poison to kill thousands, must have been left somewhere in a public place, creating obvious risk that someone would find it.
‘Is it possible that mistakes were made in protecting Sergei Skripal that might indirectly have contributed to Dawn Sturgess’ death?’
Adam Straw KC, for the Sturgess family, said leaving what appeared to be a perfume bottle containing enough Novichok to kill thousands ‘was a game of Russian roulette that put the public at grave risk’.
He added: ‘Dawn’s death is a tragedy for her family, her partner and her friends.
‘Living a quiet life in Salisbury, they were stunned to be the collateral damage of global spy wars. It felt like James Bond meets the Archers. But the consequences could have been even more disastrous. It was capable of causing a massacre.’
In September 2018, Scotland Yard charged the two GRU (Russian military intelligence) spies, who travelled under the names Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, with the attempted murder of the Skripals.
The Skripals survived and now live at a secret location so will not be called to give evidence to protect them.
In a witness statement, Mr Skripal said he was convinced the attempted assassination was ordered by the Russian president.
MARCH 3, 2.50pm: Suspected Russian assassins Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov walk south along Salisbury’s India Road
MARCH 4, 1.35PM: The Skripals drive their BMW along Devizes Road –
MARCH 4, 1.40PM: Petrov and Boshirov on Devizes Road five minutes later – suggesting the Skripals may have driven by them
The doorknob of Mr Skripal’s home, which the Novichok is believed to have been smeared on
The ex-GRU agent was jailed in Russia in 2004 for espionage before being freed in 2010 and moving to the UK in a prisoner swap. The inquiry heard there was evidence he was helping UK intelligence shortly before he was attacked, raising concerns about whether enough was done to protect him.
Mr Skripal said: ‘I never thought the Russian regime would try to murder me in Great Britain.
‘They could have killed me easily when I was in prison.
‘I believe Putin makes all important decisions himself. I therefore think he must have at least given permission for the attack.’
A third Russian, Sergey Fedotov, also a suspected GRU spy, was charged three years later in connection with the poisoning.
An international arrest warrant was issued for the trio but Russia does not allow the extradition of its citizens so it is unlikely they will ever face trial in the UK.
In an unorthodox move, Mr Straw called on inquiry chairman Lord Hughes of Ombersley to call Putin as a witness but admitted it would be impossible to make him attend. Lord Hughes’ final report is expected next year.