Dawn Sturgess – The mother of three who died after being exposed to Novichok.

Charlie Rowley – Dawn Sturgess’ partner, who was also hospitalised after exposure, but recovered.

Sergei and Yulia Skripal – Mr Skripal is a former Russian spy, who was living in the UK in 2018. He and his daughter Yulia were discovered unconscious on a bench in Salisbury on 4 March 2018. They eventually recovered from the poisoning.

Alexander Petrov - One of the two men believed to be Russian spies, who are thought to have carried out the attack in Salisbury. His real identity is suspected to be Anatoliy Chepiga.

Ruslan Boshirov - He accompanied Petrov to Salisbury. His real name is believed to be Alexander Mishkin.

Sergey Fedotov - A senior Russian agent, named in 2021 by the police as another suspect. They allege he was the on-the-ground commander. It's thought he is really Denis Sergeev.

Det Sgt Nick Bailey - The first person to enter the home of Sergei Skripal after he was found poisoned with his daughter. He too fell seriously ill but also recovered.

Lord Hughes of Ombersley – the judge overseeing the inquiry.

Image source, Metropolitan Police

Since the poisonings, Russia has denied any involvement in the incident. Its foreign ministry has described the forthcoming inquiry as a "circus".

Within a week of the attack in 2018, the UK government blamed the Russian government, and expelled Russian intelligence officers on diplomatic passports working in the country.

Two Russian nationals, who arrived in the UK under the aliases Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, were named by UK counter-terrorism police as suspects in September 2018. A third suspect, using the alias Sergey Fedotov, was named by police in February 2019.

Their real identities are believed to be Anatoliy Chepiga, Alexander Mishkin and Denis Sergeev - all three men are thought to be members of the GRU, the Russian intelligence agency.

Petrov and Boshirov later appeared on state TV, where they said they had travelled to the UK as tourists. They denied any involvement in the poisonings.

The UK dismissed the interview - Downing Street described the interview as "lies and blatant fabrications".

An international arrest warrant has been issued but unless they leave Russia it is unlikely they will ever stand trial – as the Russian constitution does not allow the extradition of its citizens.

Dan O'Brien
Political reporter, BBC Wiltshire

The historical square in front of Salisbury Guildhall is used hosting a market - but today the market vans are replaced by satellite trucks and the stallholders by camera crews.

Today’s proceedings will focus on the opening statements rather than any witnesses, setting the tone and objectives of the coming weeks.

Security around the building is noticeable, but not overbearing. There are far more police officers than normal, patrolling the square and all sides of the Guildhall.

This morning’s rain has stopped and we’ve seen various legal teams arrive, heading inside the solid black doors, ready for the 11am start.

Image source, Metropolitan Police

Two Russian nationals, who arrived in the UK under the aliases Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, were named by UK counter-terrorism police as suspects in the attack in September 2018.

It is thought the men are actually Anatoliy Chepiga and Alexander Mishkin respectively.

A third suspect, known as Sergey Fedotov, was also named by police in February 2019. He is believed to be Denis Sergeev.

All three men are thought to be members of the GRU, the Russian intelligence agency.

The Russian government has always denied involvement in the incident. Its foreign ministry has described the forthcoming inquiry as a "circus".

Despite being charged with attempted murder and other crimes by UK authorities, none of the three have been extradited, as Russia does not allow the extradition of its nationals.

Dawn Limbu
BBC News, Bristol

There will be a heightened police presence in Salisbury city centre throughout the duration of the inquiry.

Wiltshire Police say this is a "precautionary measure".

The force's Chief Constable Catherine Roper added that there is "no current intelligence to suggest there is any risk to the wider public."

Image source, Facebook

Dawn Sturgess, a 44-year-old mother of three, was inadvertently exposed to the deadly nerve agent Novichok in Amesbury in June 2018.

This was four months after the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia Skripal, roughly 8 miles away in Salisbury in March that year.

It is understood the nerve agent had been hidden inside a designer perfume bottle which Sturgess’ partner, Charlie Rowley, unknowingly gave to her.

She was attended to by paramedics, but died in hospital on 8 July 2018.

She was described by her family as "a gentle soul who was generous to a fault".

Image source, Reuters

Novichok is a powerful, military-grade nerve agent developed during the Soviet era.

It works by disrupting the body’s nervous system, leading to paralysis, convulsions, and in the case of Dawn Sturgess, fatal organ failure.

The chemicals are extremely effective in very small quantities.

The use of Novichok in the UK has had far-reaching consequences, not only for public safety but also for international relations.

Our reporters Dan O'Brien, Andy Howard and Duncan Kennedy are now at Salisbury Guildhall, awaiting the public inquiry which begins at 11:00 BST.

Follow this page for more updates from our team.

We’ll be providing live updates and key takeaways from each day of the hearing.

The first week of evidence will be heard at Salisbury’s Guildhall, with the first session due to start at 11:00 BST.

Today we will hear opening statements, then on Tuesday Caroline Sturgess - mother of victim Dawn Sturgess - will give evidence to the inquiry.

The rest of the week will hear from local first responders, including paramedics and Wiltshire Police, which is expected to be crucial in determining whether any steps could have prevented the tragedy.

After a week’s break, the inquiry will move to central London where it will hear details relating to the targeting of Sergei and Yulia Skripal, with evidence from government representatives.

Click the Watch live button above to watch the inquiry from 11:00, and stay with us for summaries of witness testimonies, and expert analysis.

To understand the significance of the public inquiry, it’s important to trace the events that led up to this moment.

In March 2018, Sergei and Yulia Skripal were poisoned with Novichok in Salisbury, effectively shutting down the city and sparking international outcry.

Then, as things were finally getting back to normal, Dawn Sturgess and her partner Charlie Rowley were exposed to the same nerve agent.

While Rowley survived, Sturgess passed away on 8 July 2018.

• A full timeline of the poisonings

Image source, Reuters

Welcome to our live coverage of the public inquiry into the death of Wiltshire woman Dawn Sturgess.

Sturgess was killed six years ago in a poisoning blamed on Russian agents.

The inquiry will examine the circumstances behind the Novichok attack in Salisbury in 2018, and try to establish where responsibility lies and highlight any lessons.

Monday’s session will begin at 11:00 BST with a day of opening statements.