Sweden’s prime minister says that Nord Stream leaks are seen as intentional acts
STOCKHOLM, Sept 27 (Reuters) – Sweden’s prime minister said on Tuesday two explosions had been detected in connection with the Nord Stream pipeline leaks with information indicating probable sabotage, although this did not represent an act of war against Sweden.
Magdalena Andersson told a press conference that the Swedish government was in close contact with partners such as NATO and neighbors such as Denmark and Germany regarding the development.
“We have Swedish intelligence, but we have also received information in our contacts with Denmark, and based on this have concluded that it is likely to be an intentional act. It is probably a question of sabotage,” says Andersson.
“It is not an attack on Swedish or Danish territory. But as I said, the government takes what happened very seriously, not least in light of the current security situation in our vicinity,” she added.
Europe was investigating major leaks in two Russian pipelines spewing gas into the Baltic Sea near Sweden and Denmark on Tuesday as Sweden launched a preliminary investigation into possible sabotage.
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Reporting by Niklas Pollard and Anna Ringström, editing by Terje Solsvik
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