Dawn Sturgess dies after being poisoned by novichok

Julie Bishop says Russia must answer questions over the death of a British mother-of-three from handling a contaminated item.

Dawn Sturgess, has died after coming into contact with Novichok. Picture: Facebook.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says Russia had questions to answer over the death of a British mother-of-three from handling an item contaminated with novichok.

“We’re deeply saddened to hear that a woman has died from exposure to novichok,” Ms Bishop said.

“This is a Russian-manufactured military-grade nerve agent.

“Russia must explain how it is that novichok could be in the United Kingdom, will have to explain what has happened to its stockpiles of Novichok, and Russia certainly has questions to answer.

“This is a chilling reminder of the event at Salisbury some months ago, and we’re deeply saddened to hear that a woman has died as a result of exposure to novichok.”

Ms Bishop said Australia remained in contact with Britain over the issue.

“I can assure you that this is a matter that we have discussed with Britain and we’ll continue to do so,” she said.

“Australia does not support in any circumstances the use of such chemical nerve agents.

“Russia has many questions to answer. It is a Russian-manufactured, military-grade nerve agent.”

Ms Sturgess, 44, was a long time alcoholic who lived in a hostel several hundred metres away from where Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found in a catatonic state in March.

A British citizen has now been murdered on British soil raising serious political and diplomatic considerations, as well as significant questions about the $20million cleanup operation that followed from the Skripals’ poisoning episode four months ago. The death will raise the already heightened fears of residents in the Salisbury region who have not been reassured by health officials that there is no wider threat to the general public.

Ms Sturgess was admitted to hospital on June 30, several hours before her boyfriend, Charlie Rowley, a heroin addict, was also admitted after becoming disorientated and foaming at the mouth. He remains in a critical condition in Salisbury hospital.

Initially authorities believed they were dealing with a particularly strong drug overdose until the victims began to show the same medical symptoms of the Skripals. Testing at the Porton Down Research facility on Tuesday found that the two had been poisoned by novichok. Police have not yet discovered how Ms Sturgess and Mr Rowley came into contact with the novichok.

The death of Ms Sturgess has “appalled and shocked’’ the Prime Minister Theresa May, 10 Downing Street said.

In the past few days more than 100 specialist police have begun a detailed search of several locations in both Salisbury and nearby Amesbury, where Mr Rowley lived.

Police have concentrated on the John Baker House in Salisbury where Ms Sturgess lived in a hostel as well as the Queen Elizabeth Gardens in Salisbury, where the couple spent time on Friday.

Police have been working on the assumption the couple picked up or handled a container that was discarded by the would be assassins of the Skripals.