UK Inquiry Concludes Putin Authorized Salisbury Poisoning

A UK public inquiry has officially concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin "probably authorized" the 2018 Novichok nerve agent attack in Salisbury. The poisoning targeted former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia. The inquiry found that agents from Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) carried out the operation. They applied a military-grade Novichok nerve agent to the front door of Mr. Skripal's home. While the Skripals survived, the attack led to the death of a British woman, Dawn Sturgess. She died after coming into contact with a perfume bottle that the assassins had used to transport the nerve agent. Her partner, Charlie Rowley, was also seriously injured. Inquiry chairman Sir Robert Owen stated the operation was "probably approved" by the head of the FSB and by President Putin. The report describes the poisoning as a state-sponsored act of terrorism. The British government has long accused the Russian state of responsibility. Russia has repeatedly denied any involvement in the incident.