Swedish Nord Stream probe strengthens suspicions of sabotage

Sweden’s security police and prosecutors say a preliminary investigation into leaks from two Russian gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea has strengthened the suspicion of sabotage as the cause.

The Swedish Security Police so October that the probe confirmed that “detonations” caused “extensive damage” to the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines last week.

The service did not provide details of the investigation, but a separate one statement from the Swedish prosecutor who led the preliminary investigation said “seizures have been made at the scene, and these will now be investigated”.

The prosecutor, Mats Ljungqvist, did not identify the seized evidence, but he said he had given “directives on temporary blocking [the area] and conduct a crime scene investigation.”

Authorities in Denmark and Sweden have previously said they suspect several hundred pounds of explosives were involved in carrying out a deliberate act of sabotage.

The EU and NATO also called the explosions “sabotage”, with some EU officials accusing Russia of being behind the attack. The Kremlin has denied any involvement and pointed the finger at the United States, an accusation Washington immediately denied.

Leaks at four locations along the pipelines in the Swedish and Danish exclusive economic zone in the Baltic Sea lasted for about a week, releasing huge amounts of methane into the air.

The pipelines – built to carry Russian natural gas supplied by Kremlin-controlled natural gas giant Gazprom to Germany – were filled with Russian gas at the time of the blasts, but were not operational due to the fallout from the war in Ukraine and tensions. with Russia.

Russia earlier this year cut exports through Nord Stream 1, claiming Western sanctions against equipment and services weakened its ability to maintain the pipeline. Nord Stream 2, the newer pipeline, was never commissioned.

The Nord Stream operators, based in Switzerland, said this week that they were unable to inspect the damaged sections due to restrictions imposed by Danish and Swedish authorities who had cordoned off the area.

The statement from Sweden’s public prosecutor’s office said the area where gas spewed was no longer cordoned off.

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Russia said on October 6 that it had been informed through diplomatic channels that it was unable to join the investigation.

– As of now, there are no plans to ask the Russian side to join the investigation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that Moscow replied that it was not possible to conduct an objective investigation without their participation.

Sweden’s Minister of Justice said that it was not possible to allow others to participate in a Swedish criminal investigation.

Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod told Reuters on October 6 that his ministry had not asked Russia to stay out of the investigation, but that a police-led task force made up of members from Denmark, Sweden and Germany was in charge of the investigation.

By RFE/RL

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