Novichok incident: Dawn Sturgess dies at Salisbury hospital after being exposed to nerve agent

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “The government is committed to providing full support to the local community as it deals with this tragedy.” Police said they have not yet found the source of the contamination as Ms Sturgess' partner, 45-year-old Charlie Rowley, remains critically ill at Salisbury District Hospital. “As I said earlier when I visited Amesbury and Salisbury, the government will continue to provide the local community all the support it needs.” Ms Sturgess' murder is likely to provoke calls for fresh action against the culprits, with British diplomat Julian King, the European Commissioner responsible for the EU's security union, saying: “Those behind this are murderers.” The government attributed the attack on Mr Skripal to Russia because of its history of state- Russia has denied any involvement in either incident and the Kremlin previously expressed hope that Ms Sturgess and Mr Rowley would recover. open image in gallery John Baker House, assisted living accommodation where Ms Sturgess lived in Salisbury They both survived the attempted assassination following treatment at Salisbury District Hospital and are recovering in secret locations, while a police officer exposed to the nerve agent was also discharged. Around 100 counterterror detectives are on the new case as officers in protective clothing search for a "contaminated item" Ms Sturgess and Mr Rowley are believed to have handled before falling ill. Security services hope that tracing the couple's movements could provide vital clues on the attack on Mr Skripal.