A British woman has died Sunday night after being exposed to Novichok, which was used in the poisoning of a former Russian spy Sergie Skripal and his daughter Yulia, in March
Dawn Sturgess, 44, was exposed to the deadly nerve agent alongside her boyfriend Charlie Rowley, and are being treated for poisoning from Novichok, a military-grade chemical weapon, according to British authorities.
Prime Minister May announced in a tweet later Sunday that Sturgess’ death is being investigated as a murder.
It is not clear how the couple came in contact with the nerve agent or if it came from the same batch that poisoned a former Russian spy in March. Friends of the couple who spoke to the British press said that Rowley would often search dumpsters, making some investigators to ascertain that Sturgess and Rowley accidentally touched items contaminated with the nerve agent probably thrown away by the assailants.
Authorities said Sturgess absorbed the nerve agent through her hands.
Ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, were both attacked with the nerve agent four months ago. They fell into comas but were revived and released. British authorities have accused Russia of being behind a deliberate attack, and expelled 23 Russian diplomats as a result.
According to British authorities, around 100 detectives are working to identify the source of the Novichok.