world

British woman dies after Novichok poisoning

40 Comments
By Paul Sandle

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2018.

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

40 Comments
Login to comment

RIP Ms Sturgess.

False flag claimers: you have no more evidence than anyone else, unless of course you're an employee of one of the spook agencies and privy to direct evidence. Same with Putin-did-its - same caveat applies.

If you don't like how some media outlets are reporting this, it's easy to find sources supporting your beliefs.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

They had a working hypothesis that the two poisoning incidents were connected, he said, although he added that there were no current plans for further sanctions against Russia.

Classic example of doublespeak if I ever did see one. Despite the lack of strong verifiable evidence, there's going to be a boatload of couch potatoes on here claiming otherwise.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

You know what else is just a few miles away.

Porton Down, UK's main chemical weapons facility.

Yes, that's where the tests were carried out to determine the nerve agent used. The Skripals were Russian, the father was a double agent.

Enemies of Russia tend not to get a pat on the head and a mild rebuke. It's common sense to look into that connection.

RIP to the victim.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Very disturbing. A true leader would cancel his meeting with Putin and stand by America's allies in the face of this attack on England.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

the face of this attack on England

Really? Attack? Where's your irrefutable evidence? What ever happened to honest, down to earth investigations not laced in propaganda? And why do seemingly sound minded individuals fall for this over and over again?

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Wallace FredToday  08:57 am JST

the face of this attack on England

Really? Attack? Where's your irrefutable evidence? What ever happened to honest, down to earth investigations not laced in propaganda?

What ever happened to calling out the murder of an innocent civilian in a sovereign nation?

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Putin invades Georgia and the Ukraine, kills hundreds of innocent civilians by shooting SAM missiles at civilian airliners, and helps the Syrian dictator murder and gas his own people.

The old KGB agent has no remorse in poisoning his enemies and cares nothing for those innocent victims that may be collateral damage - like this poor unfortunate women and her companion.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The old KGB agent has no remorse

and will say 'prove that I was involved', which only a handful of the deepest insiders in a handful of intelligence agencies might be able to do.

As the controller of a global network of media outlets he's also able to affect public perception worldwide. Selling himself as a 'conservative, Christian' has certainly helped him gain supporters.

As the man in charge of the Russian Federation's oil and gas supplies he can exert great pressure on states that might question him. And if too many questions are asked, there's the military and police forces he commands to back him up.

But then this is the era of thug capitalism.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

So the British royal family and top officials won’t even support their nations soccer team which could win the World Cup for the first time since 1966, on no evidence apart that the nerve agent is either from Russia, Russia, Russia...or the fact that it is also made by Chkeck or Porterdown...a few miles down the road.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

As tragic as this woman's death is, it could have been a hell of a lot worse if foreign agents operating in the UK were to use the same nerve agents in a time of war. This woman's death could very well represent the canary in the coalmine. Also, the UK is far from alone in this as this could happen to anybody. If the nerve agents were created in Russia as British intelligence strongly suggests, then Putin and Russia, if he and the Russian government are blameless he claims, should be bending over backwards to assist the British government in this effort to find out where the hell these chemical weapons are coming from. Also, Trump should not be meeting with Putin. It's disgraceful to see a U.S. president fly over there to kiss Putin's behind with this hanging over their heads.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Now it's murder. A British citizen murdered on UK soil as a result of action by a foreign nation.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Too many theories going around. From The Independent back in March:

Russian media reports have also suggested that the US stole samples of Novichoks while decontaminating a former Soviet Union testing plant in Uzbekistan from 1999 onwards.

Proponents of the theory claim that the US may have launched the attack itself, either through the “deep state” or because of Mr Skripal’s potential links to the private security firm that compiled a dossier of allegations against Donald Trump.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/uk-russia-nerve-agent-attack-spy-poisoning-sergei-skripal-salisbury-accusations-evidence-explanation-a8258911.html

See? Anybody can come up with CTs. But the most obvious answer is Russian interference, esp when their track record is taken into account.

The victims of the latest incident were in the wrong place at the wrong time but there's little doubt the Skripals were targetted.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

@lincolnman

Putin invades Georgia and the Ukraine, kills hundreds of innocent civilians by shooting SAM missiles at civilian airliners, and helps the Syrian dictator murder and gas his own people.

NATO hawks unleashed their Georgian lapdog Saakashvili to attack Abhazia in 2008, destroyed independent Libya in 2011, staged a coup in Ukraine in 2014, covered up the destruction of the Malaysian plane by Ukrainian regime forces, supported terrorists in Syria, staged the Skripal fiasco, and now they've committed another crime. Anything goes to prevent the meeting between Trump and Putin and to prevent a massive change of mood towards Russia after dozens of thousands of football fans went to the World Cup and saw for themselves that Russia is nothing like they were fed by MSM?

@Luddite

A British citizen murdered on UK soil as a result of action by a foreign nation

Do you have anything to back your claim?

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

She was a living in a Women's Shelter, and was a mother of 2 Kids. No additional information has been released for her partner for the day.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Occam's razor says it was related to the Russian's assassination.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

NATO hawks unleashed their Georgian lapdog Saakashvili to attack Abhazia in 2008, destroyed independent Libya in 2011, staged a coup in Ukraine in 2014, covered up the destruction of the Malaysian plane by Ukrainian regime forces, supported terrorists in Syria, staged the Skripal fiasco, and now they've committed another crime. Anything goes to prevent the meeting between Trump and Putin and to prevent a massive change of mood towards Russia after dozens of thousands of football fans went to the World Cup and saw for themselves that Russia is nothing like they were fed by MSM?

Well, we have been spending too much time getting spoon fed Putin-inspired disinformation on RT and Sputnik, haven't we. But it was entertaining - much like watching an episode of the X Files.

What happens to Putin's enemies? As the saying goes, just follow the dead Russians (and we can add Malaysians, Syrians, Ukrainians, Georgians, and now innocent UK citizens)...

And as for the Trump-Putin Summit, I would more accurately refer to it as an annual performance review - Putin giving his subordinate Trump, who he helped elect, his grades for the year - disrupt the Western Alliance - check.  Diminish the US's moral standing in the world - check.  Sow confusion in western trade relations - check.  Spanky is likely to get an A across the board.  Robert Mueller can't finish soon enough...

3 ( +5 / -2 )

She and her partner probably not targeted, unlike the Skripals. But unthinkable that the two episodes were not connected. While Putin tried and failed the first time, he then managed to succeed without trying the second.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Yep!

blame it on Putin. So easy these days.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

@askaze Do you have anything to back your claim?

The Putin-response, i.e. 'prove it, prove it', again? You know that only a select few in the intelligence community can 'back claims' like this. People are expressing opinions - western free press, after all. Do you have or have access to actual factual info saying what did happen? Or are you expressing an opinion.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

@fizzb blame it on Putin. So easy these days.

I agree. Some people actually claim the world's evils are done at the behest of a secretive organization straight out of Marvel Comics they call the 'deep state', i.e. an imagined force that can't be physically identified, kind of like a gathering of ghosts.

With Putin at least, we've got evidence he exists. And given what's been written about him and what he's reported to have done to those who oppose him, it's easy to understand why fingers are pointed at him when things like this happen.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

@stormcrow

if he and the Russian government are blameless he claims, should be bending over backwards to assist the British government in this effort to find out where the hell these chemical weapons are coming from

And the Russians actually offered all their help, but UK refused it. Lies hate openess.

@lincolnman

What happens to Putin's enemies? As the saying goes, just follow the dead Russians (and we can add Malaysians, Syrians, Ukrainians, Georgians, and now innocent UK citizens)

What happens to NATO hawks' enemies? Just remember Hillary's gleeful "wow" when she was told that Qaddafi was dead. And what happens to innocent people who happened to be on the path of NATO? Ask dozens of thousands of dead Iraqis, Afghanis, Libyans, Ukrainians, Syrians, people from the shot down Malaysian plane.

@PTownsend

The Putin-response, i.e. 'prove it, prove it', again?

Actually, it is not "Putin-response", it's a normal desire to see facts and proof before making judgements. If I claim that Pete Townsend robbed an old lady at gunpoint I should expect a very logical demand to back my claim. But you think that claim of murder does not require proof, "we think it's highly likely" is more then enough? Can you imagine that in court?

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

people from the shot down Malaysian plane.

Surely not good salesmanship to remind us of one of your boss's most grievous outrages against world society!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

@askaze ,Actually, it is not "Putin-response" it's a normal desire to see facts and proof before making judgements. 

This is an online site where people express opinions, not a court of law.

'Prove it' is a line Putin and his supporters in Russia, the US and elsewhere have used when fingers are pointed at them. And I'll repeat: the line is used knowing that only those who pulled the trigger, or perhaps in this case the gas, plus their bosses are the only ones who have the 'proof'.

You read this site; you know how many odd claims people make, the range of opinions they have. The 'free press' usually allows that. People who want to stop people from sharing opinions, in my opinion, are people to worry about. I'll add those who push fake news to the list of people to worry about.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

@theeastisred

Surely not good salesmanship to remind us of one of your boss's most grievous outrages against world society!

LOL!! Personal attack? "When you have nothing to say, call your opponent a Putin's agent"? Exellent, it vividly demonstrates you are out of any logical arguments.

@PTownsend

This is an online site where people express opinions, not a court of law

Even an online discussion requires some level of common sense, logic and ability to present and conprehend facts. And some posters here demonstrate profound lack of such ability, they just fervently, fiercely believe in "Putin-did-it-all" thing. Long time ago I talked to a man who was a AUM-Shinrikyo believer, and these posters remind him very much - the same mentality, the same borderless faith that no facts or common sense could shake.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

@askaz Even an online discussion requires...

I stopped with 'requires'. This is not an academic site.

 the same borderless faith that no facts or common sense could shake.

I agree with you. There have always been 'true believers', those for whatever reason needing a messiah of some sort to follow. And with cults of personality becoming more prevalent these days, worrying.

I'll continue to oppose leaders like Trump, Putin, Erdogan, Netanyahu, Duterte, and others in ways I can. Sites like this allow me to express my opinions as an individual.

@burningbush cla68 cochise I think the international news section should just be renamed "things to blame Putin for"

Have you tried reading other international news sites?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@PTownsend

I stopped with 'requires'

Too bad. Otherwise you would find words "facts" and "common sense". Without that this site will degenerate into some online freaks club.

I'll continue to oppose leaders like Trump, Putin, Erdogan, Netanyahu, Duterte

No problem, go for it. And I'll continue to oppose the MSM's addiction to groundless, one-sided, duplicitous claims against countries that are not servile satellites of the West.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

the father was a double agent. Enemies of Russia tend not to get a pat on the head and a mild rebuke. It's common sense to look into that connection.

I find it hard to believe he was murdered just for being a double agent. He had been imprisoned in Russia, and was released as part of a swap. I doubt countries easily renege on such swap deals as it makes future deals difficult. There is some speculation about Skripal's activities after he moved to the UK. That would make more sense to me as a reason to target him. (But apparently D-notices have been issued in the UK and so discussion of that kind in the media is limited.)

Of course, there is the wilder possibility that Skripal himself possessed the nerve agent and accidentally released it. Doubtful perhaps, but it is probably common sense to also look into that possibility.

Somehow, I doubt we'll ever learn what really happened (and is perhaps still happening).

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@asaka Too bad. Otherwise you would find words "facts" and "common sense". Without that this site will degenerate into some online freaks club.

I have more faith in the mods than you. This is the internet era; I've read some amazing things written on public forums. Reality. Love it or leave it.

nd I'll continue to oppose the MSM's addiction to groundless, one-sided, duplicitous claims against countries that are not servile satellites of the West.

What does MSM mean to you? Corporate (or other) media outlets printing opinions different from yours, reporting events from perspectives different from yours? Would you include RT and Sputnik and other Putin controlled media outlets as MSM?

By the way, my sense is people using expressions like MSM are people who tend to be followers of rightwing politicians who try to get their followers to believe, and seem to be doing a very effective job of it, that only they, the politicians, are the ones who can be believed. Anything printed or said they disagree with is fake news. (An expression made part of everyday language by Trump.) In cults of personality the leaders tell their followers who to believe.

Which English language media outlets do you trust?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

@PTownsend

I've read some amazing things

I suppose these things were written by people with common sense, not by "Putin-did-it-all" cult followers.

Which English language media outlets do you trust?

I have a sibscription to "The Japan News" (ex "Daily Yomiuri"). It is mostly neutral - not always, but mostly trustworthy.

What does MSM mean to you?

Have a look at the video. It just 2 minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cabD_0h5mcA

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Notice a trend here?

A Russian agent caught spying against Russia and released by Russia in a spy swap is poisoned with a nerve agent developed by Russia - and its all a conspiracy by NATO and the west...

A Russian Buk missile operated by Russian forces in Ukraine shoots down a Malaysian airliner and murders over 200 innocent men, women and children, and its all NATO and the west's fault...

Russian forces in Syria provide protection and support to Assad the dictator as he gases his own men, women and children and NATO and the west are to blame...

This is standard Russian disinformation - no matter how outrageous and conspiracy-like the lie, keep repeating it, and maybe the weak-minded will believe it. That's certainly evident in a small minority of the posts in this thread.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Notice a trend here? A Russian agent caught spying against Russia

Notice a trend here?

A spy who spied for the West, who lived in the West after his swap and who was protected by a Western secirity service is poisoned by a nerve agent well-known in the West and not far from a major Western chemical warfare center, but somehow the whole thing is Putin's fault.

A missile from the air defence forces of the Western-backed regime, installed as a result of the West-instigated coup d'etat, shot down a passenger plane, the investigation is immediately covered in secrecy by the West who resolutely refused any help from Russia, but the whole thing is again Russia's fault.

West provides terrorists in Syria with weapons, with expertise, materials abd specialists to make chemical agents so the talentless actors troupe "White Helmets" could stage its "crimes of the refime" videos, the West sheds crocodile's tears about bombing of Aleppo (while bombing civilians at Mosul with complete abandon), but somehow the whole thing is again Putin's fault.

That's how Western propaganda works: "whatever happens in the world, blame Putin". That's certainly evident in some posts in this thread.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

A spy who spied for the West, who lived in the West after his swap and who was protected by a Western secirity service is poisoned by a nerve agent well-known in the West and not far from a major Western chemical warfare center, but somehow the whole thing is Putin's fault. A missile from the air defence forces of the Western-backed regime, installed as a result of the West-instigated coup d'etat, shot down a passenger plane, the investigation is immediately covered in secrecy by the West who resolutely refused any help from Russia, but the whole thing is again Russia's fault. West provides terrorists in Syria with weapons, with expertise, materials abd specialists to make chemical agents so the talentless actors troupe "White Helmets" could stage its "crimes of the refime" videos, the West sheds crocodile's tears about bombing of Aleppo (while bombing civilians at Mosul with complete abandon), but somehow the whole thing is again Putin's fault. That's how Western propaganda works: "whatever happens in the world, blame Putin". That's certainly evident in some posts in this thread.

Another enjoyable episode of the X Files, scripted by Putin and his cronies. Repeat, repeat, and repeat, and the weak minded will believe...

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Another enjoyable episode of the X Files, scripted by Putin and his cronies

Yawn. It is all you have to say on the substance? Next time come up with something more creative. otherwise only really weak minded will believe your "Putin-did-it-all" mantra.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

I remember when one of my Russian friends claimed the were no Russian troops in Crimea just little green men.

Boy did he end up looking like a fool.

Nationalists will willingly peddle stuff they know to be lies. Just like the trump cult members....

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Yawn. It is all you have to say on the substance? Next time come up with something more creative. otherwise only really weak minded will believe your "Putin-did-it-all" mantra.

Well, thank you - I wasn't expecting you to lend support to my argument, but I appreciate it.

Russian doctrine:  If your lies don't work, ridicule and attack your opponent personally, and as a last report, there's always Novichok....

2 ( +3 / -1 )

You know what else is just a few miles away from

Porton Down, UK's main chemical weapons facility.

It's interesting fact to think about. If you start looking for Kremlin's motivation to poison common Brits you find nothing because they didn't threat Putin. That's why there is a version, that there was a case of leakage of poison in Porton Down chemical laboratory. And to hide the fault of the personnel the British authority decided to fool people and accuse Moscow of another chemical attack on the British soil....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites