Incident in Salisbury

Technical Assistance provided by OPCW related to toxic chemical incidents in Salisbury and Amesbury.

Salisbury

OPCW Technical Assistance was requested by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in regards to the chemical incident in Salisbury on 4 March 2018 involving a toxic chemical—allegedly a nerve agent—and the poisoning and hospitalisation of three people. 

The OPCW team worked independently and was not involved in the national investigation by the UK authorities. No State Party was involved in the technical work carried out by the Technical Secretariat.

The OPCW team collected environmental and biomedical samples and sent them to four OPCW designated laboratories.

The results of the analysis confirmed the findings of the United Kingdom relating to the identity of the toxic chemical.

The UK’s delegation to the OPCW requested that the Technical Secretariat share the report with all States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and to make the Executive Summary of the report publicly available.

Summary Report

Amesbury

OPCW Technical Assistance was requested by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, on 13 July 2018, in regards to the chemical incident in Amesbury on 30 June 2018 involving a toxic chemical— that was alleged to have resulted in the death of one person and left another seriously ill.

In response to the request, the OPCW deployed a technical assistance team to independently determine the nature of the substance. 

The OPCW team collected environmental and biomedical samples and sent them to two OPCW designated laboratories.

The results of the analysis confirmed the findings of the United Kingdom relating to the identity of the toxic chemical.

The toxic chemical compound displayed the same toxic properties of a nerve agent. It was also the same toxic chemical that was found in the biomedical and environmental samples relating to the poisoning of three people on 4 March 2018 in Salisbury.

The UK’s delegation to the OPCW requested that the Technical Secretariat share the report with all States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and to make the summary of the report publicly available.

Summary Report

Related News

More News

Official Series Documents

Document Symbol Title Date
S/1671/2018 Note by the Technical Secretariat: Summary of the Report on Activities Carried Out in Support of a Request for Technical Assistance by the UK (Technical Assistance Visit TAV/03/18 and TAV/03B/18, “Amesbury Incident”) 4 September 2018
EC‑M‑59/3 Report of the Fifty-Ninth Meeting of the Executive Council 18 April 2018
S/1612/2018 Note by the Technical Secretariat: Summary of the Report on Activities Carried Out in Support of a Request for Technical Assistance by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Technical Assistance Visit TAV/02/18) 12 April 2018
EC‑87/2 Report of the Eighty-Seventh Session of the Executive Council 15 March 2018

National Statements

Document Symbol Title Date
Finland: Statement by Ambassador Katri Viinikka, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Finland to the OPCW at the Fifty-Ninth Meeting of the Executive Council 18 April 2018
EC‑M‑59/NAT.2 Switzerland: Statement by Nadine Olivieri Lozano, Deputy Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the OPCW at EC-M-59 on Activities Carried out in Support of Request for Technical Assistance by the United Kingdom 18 April 2018
EC‑M‑59/NAT.8 Romania: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Brandusa Predescu Permanent Representative of Romania to the OPCW at the Fifty-Ninth Meeting of the Executive Council 18 April 2018
EC‑M‑59/NAT.17 Canada: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Sabine Nölke Permanent Representative of Canada to the OPCW at the Fifty-Ninth Meeting of the Executive Council 18 April 2018
Poland: Statement by Mr. Marcin Kawalowski, Charge d'Affaires A.I. Deputy Permanent Representative of Poland to the OPCW at the 59th Meeting of the Executive Council 18 April 2018 18 April 2018
EC‑M‑59/NAT.6 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Peter Wilson Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the OPCW at the Fifty-Ninth Meeting of the Executive Council 18 April 2018
EC‑M‑59/NAT.13 Italy: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Andrea Perugini Permanent Representative of Italy to the OPCW at the Fifty-Ninth Meeting of the Executive Council 18 April 2018
Ireland: Statement by Ambassador Kevin Kelly, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the OPCW at the Fifty-Ninth Meeting of the Executive Council 18 April 2018
EC‑M‑59/NAT.4 Russian Federation: Aide Memoire of the Russian Federation on Enhancement of the Chemical Weapons Convention 18 April 2018
EC‑M‑59/NAT.18 Guatemala: Statement by the Delegation of Guatemala at the Fifty-Ninth Meeting of the Executive Council 18 April 2018
Norway: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Martin Sørby, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Norway to the OPCW at the Fifty-Ninth Meeting of the Executive Council 18 April 2018
EC‑M‑59/NAT.15 Bulgaria: Statement on behalf of the European Union delivered by H.E. Ambassador Krassimir Kostov Permanent Representative of the Republic of Bulgaria to the OPCW at the Fifty-Ninth Meeting of the Executive Council 18 April 2018
Intervencion de S.E. Sra. Soraya Alvarez Nunez Representante Permanente de Cuba en la 59 reunion del consejo ejecutivo de la OPAQ (Spanish) 18 April 2018
EC‑M‑59/NAT.5 United States of America: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Kenneth D. Ward Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the OPCW at the Fifty-Ninth Meeting of the Executive Council 18 April 2018
India: Statement by Ambassador Venu Rajamony, Permanent Representative of the Republic of India to the OPCW at the Fifty-Ninth Meeting of the Executive Council 18 April 2018
EC‑M‑59/NAT.3 Russian Federation: Statement by H.E. Ambassador A.V. Shulgin, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the OPCW, at the Fifty-Ninth Meeting of the OPCW Executive Council 18 April 2018
EC‑M‑59/NAT.10 Germany: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Christine Weil Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany to the OPCW at the Fifty-Ninth Meeting of the Executive Council 18 April 2018
EC‑M‑59/NAT.19 Belgium: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Christian Lepage Permanent Representative of Belgium to the OPCW at the Fifty-Ninth Meeting of the Executive Council 18 April 2018
Statement by Estonia to the OPCW 58th Meeting of the Executive Council 16 April 2018 18 April 2018
EC‑M‑59/NAT.1 France: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Philippe Lalliot Permanent Representative of France to the OPCW at the Fifty-Ninth Meeting of the Executive Council 18 April 2018
EC‑M‑59/NAT.11 Australia: Statement by H.E. The Honourable Brett Mason Permanent Representative of Australia to the OPCW at the Fifty-Ninth Meeting of the Executive Council 18 April 2018
EC‑M‑59/NAT.16* Portugal: Statement by the Delegation of Portugal at the Fifty-Ninth Meeting of the Executive Council 18 April 2018
The Netherlands: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Paul Van Den IJssel Permanent Representative to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons at the Fifty-Ninth Session of the Executive Council 18 April 2018 18 April 2018
Statement by H.E. Mr. Jens-Otto Horslund, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Denmark to the OPCW at 57th Meeting of the Executive Council 4 April 2018 4 April 2018
Statement by the Republic of Latvia at the 57th Meeting of the Executive Council 4 April 2018 4 April 2018
Statement by H.E. Ambassador Sanja Štiglic Permanent Representative of the Republic of Slovenia to the OPCW At the 57h Meeting of the Executive Council 4 April 2018 4 April 2018
EC‑M‑57/NAT.15 Australia: Statement by H.E. The Honourable Brett Mason Permanent Representative of Australia to the OPCW at the Fifty-Seventh Meeting of the Executive Council 4 April 2018
Update by the Director-General to the Executive Council at its Fifty-Seventh Meeting 4 April 2018
Statement by Ms Lorraine Cooke Deputy Permanent Representative of Ireland to the OPCW at the Fifty-Seventh Meeting of the Executive Council 4 April 2018 4 April 2018
Statement by Lithuania at the OPCW 57th meeting of the Executive Council April 4 2018 4 April 2018
Statement by Brazil at the 57th Meeting of the Executive Council 4 April 2018 4 April 2018
Statement by H.E. Ambassador Sabine Nolke Permanent Representative of Canada to the OPCW at the 57th Meeting of the Executive Council 4 April 2018 4 April 2018
Statement by the Delegation of Portugal at the 57th Meeting of the Executive Council 4 April 2018 4 April 2018
EC‑M‑57/NAT.4 Russian Federation: Statement by G.V. Kalamanov Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation and I.V. Rybalchenko Professor, Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Expert of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation 4 April 2018
Statement by Estonia at the 57th Meeting of the Executive Council 4 April 2018 4 April 2018
Statement by H. E. Jana Reinišová, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the OPCW at the 57th Meeting of the Executive Council 4 April 2018 4 April 2018
Statement by H.E Ambassador Shujjat Ali Rathore, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the OPCW at the 57th Meeting of the Executive Council 4 April 2018 4 April 2018
EC‑M‑57/NAT.3 Switzerland: Statement by M. Mirko Zambelli, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. Permanent Representation of Switzerland to the OPCW at EC-M-57 - Under Agenda Item 3 Incident in Salisbury, The United Kingdom on 4 March 2018 4 April 2018
EC‑M‑57/NAT.7 Germany: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Christine Weil Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany to the OPCW at the Fifty-Seventh Meeting of the Executive Council 4 April 2018
Statement by Ambassador Venu Rajamony Permanent Representative of India to the OPCW 4 April 2018
Statement of Vietnam at the Executive Council Special Meeting 4 April 2018 4 April 2018
Statement by Armenia at the 57th Meeting of the Executive Council 4 April 2018 4 April 2018
EC‑M‑57/NAT.8 Italy: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Andrea Perugini Permanent Representative of the Italian Republic to the OPCW at the Fifty-Seventh Meeting of the Executive Council 4 April 2018
Statement by H.E. Ambassador Paul van den IJssel Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the OPCW at the 57th Meeting of the Executive Council 4 April 2018 4 April 2018
EC‑M‑57/NAT.1 United States of America: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Kenneth D. Ward Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the OPCW at the Fifty-Seventh Meeting of the Executive Council 4 April 2018
EC‑M‑57/NAT.2 Statement by the Delegation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the OPCW at the 57th Meeting of the Executive Council 4 April 2018 4 April 2018
EC‑M‑57/NAT.11 Kazakhstan: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Magzhan Ilyassov, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the OPCW at the Fifty-Seventh Meeting of the Executive Council 4 April 2018
Statement by Austria at 57th meeting of the Executive Council 4 April 2018 Mr. Gerhard Eisl Charge de Affairs a.i. Permanent Mission of Austria to the OPCW 4 April 2018
EC‑M‑57/NAT.10 Bulgaria: Statement on behalf of the European Union Delivered by H.E. Ambassador Krassimir Kostov Permanent Representative of the Republic of Bulgaria to the OPCW at the Fifty-Seventh Meeting of the Executive Council 4 April 2018
EC‑M‑57/NAT.16 Panama: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Willys Delvalle Permanent Representative of the Republic of Panama to the OPCW at the Fifty-Seventh Meeting of the Executive Council 4 April 2018
Statement by Mr. Petter Lycke Deputy Permanent Representative of Sweden to the OPCW at the 57th Meeting of the Executive Council 4 April 2018
Statement by Norway at the 57th Meeting of the Executive Council 4 April 2018 4 April 2018
Joint statement of the States Parties to the OPCW in connection with the incident in Salisbury at the 57th Meeting of the Executive Council 4 April 2018 4 April 2018
EC‑M‑57/NAT.6 Russian Federation: Statement by H.E. Ambassador A.V. Shulgin Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the OPCW at the Fifty-Seventh Meeting of the Executive Council 4 April 2018
EC‑M‑57/NAT.12 Finland: Statement by Ms Sari Uusi-Rauva, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Finland to the OPCW at the Fifty-Seventh Meeting of the Executive Council 4 April 2018
EC‑M‑57/1 Note by the Director-General: Request by the Russian Federation to Convene a Meeting of the Executive Council 30 March 2018
EC‑M‑57/2 Note by the Director-General: Provisional Agenda for the Fifty-Seventh Meeting of the Executive Council 30 March 2018
Canada: Supplementary Statement by H.E Ambassador Timothy Edwards, Acting Permanent Representative of Canada to the OPCW at the Eighty-Seventh Session of the Executive Council, 13-16 March 2018 15 March 2018
EC‑87/NAT.21 Bulgaria: Statement on behalf of the European Union Delivered by H.E. Ambassador Krassimir Kostov Permanent Representative of the Republic of Bulgaria to the OPCW at the Eighty-Seventh Session of the Executive Council (on the Salisbury Incident) 15 March 2018
Latvia: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Ilze Ruse, Permanent Representative of Latvia to the OPCW at the Eighty-Seventh Session of the Executive Council 13-16 March 2018 14 March 2018
Estonia: Statement By H.E Ambassador Kaili Terras, Permanent Representative of Estonia to the OPCW at the Eighty-Seventh Session of the Executive Council, 13-16 March 2018 14 March 2018
EC‑87/NAT.38 Australia: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Dr Brett Mason Permanent Representative of Australia to the OPCW at the Eighty-Seventh Session of the Executive Council 14 March 2018
United Kingdom: Update on the use of Nerve Agent in Salisbury, United Kingdom. Statement by H.E Ambassador Peter Wilson, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the OPCW at the Eighty-Seventh Session of the Executive Council, 13-16 March 2018 14 March 2018
EC‑87/NAT.8 United States of America: Statement by H.E Ambassador Kenneth D. Ward, Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the OPCW at the Eighty-Seventh Session of the Executive Council, 13-16 March 2018 14 March 2018
EC‑87/NAT.23 Russian Federation: Statement by the Delegation of the Russian Federation at the Eighty-Seventh Session of the Executive Council (Response to the Statement by the European Union) 14 March 2018
Netherlands: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Paul van den IJssel, Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the OPCW at the Eighty-Seventh Session of the Executive Council 13 -16 March 2018 14 March 2018
Sweden: Statement by H.E Mr Per Holmström, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Sweden to the OPCW at the Eighty-Seventh Session of the Executive Council 13-16 March 2018 14 March 2018
EC‑87/NAT.12 United Kingdom: Statement by H.E Ambassador Peter Wilson, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain to the OPCW at the Eighty-Seventh Session of the Executive Council (Update on the use of the nerve agent in Salisbury) 14 March 2018
Canada: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Timothy Edwards, Acting Permanent Representative of Canada to the OPCW at the Eighty-Seventh Session of the Executive Council 13-16 March 2018 13 March 2018
EC‑87/NAT.9 Russian Federation: Statement by H.E. Ambassador A.V. Shulgin Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the OPCW at the Eighty-Seventh Session of the Executive Council (on the Chemical Incident in Salisbury) 13 March 2018
EC‑87/NAT.13 France: Statement by H.E Ambassador Phillipe Lalliot Permanent Representative of France to the OPCW, at the Eighty-Seventh Session of the Executive Council, 13-16 March 2018 13 March 2018
EC‑87/NAT.17 Switzerland: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Urs Breiter Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the OPCW at the Eighty-Seventh Session of the Executive Council 13 March 2018
EC‑87/NAT.5 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Peter Wilson, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the OPCW at the Eighty-Seventh Session of the Executive Council 13 March 2018
EC‑87/NAT.11 Germany: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Christine Weil, Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany to the OPCW at the Eighty-Seventh Session of the Executive Council 13 March 2018
EC‑87/NAT.19 People's Republic of China: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Wu Ken Head of the Chinese Delegation at the Eighty-Seventh Session of the Executive Council 13 March 2018

Notes by the Director-General

Document Symbol Title Date
S/1621/2018 Note by the Director-General: Request for Information from States Parties on New Types of Nerve Agents 2 May 2018
EC‑M‑59/DG.1 Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Executive Council at its Fifty-Ninth Meeting 18 April 2018
EC‑87/DG.22 Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Executive Council at its Eighty-Seventh Session (As Delivered) 13 March 2018