UK Expels Russian Diplomats Following Novichok Attack in Salisbury

In 2018, Russian agents targeted former Russian military officer and British double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, using the nerve agent Novichok in Salisbury, England. The attack led to the death of Dawn Sturgess, who died after her partner, Charlie Rowley, accidentally found a discarded vial containing the poison.

Scientists at Porton Down identified the specific chemical weapon used in the assassination attempt. In response, Theresa May, then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, ordered the expulsion of Russian diplomats to penalize the Kremlin for the attack. Home Secretary Amber Rudd and National Security Adviser Mark Sedwill supported the response, with Sedwill dismissing Russian denials as disinformation.

The event is documented in 'The Salisbury Poisonings: A Spy Next Door,' which examines the lethal nature of the international espionage operation within the quiet city of Salisbury.