Sweden says site inspection of Nord Stream leaks point to ‘sabotage’
Swedish investigative authorities said on Thursday (October 6) that an inspection of two of the leaks at Nord Stream’s gas pipelines has supported suspicions of sabotage.
Mats Ljungqvist, who is the prosecutor, said in a statement: “We can conclude that there have been detonations at Nord Stream 1 and 2 in the Swedish exclusive economic zone that have led to extensive damage to the gas pipelines.”
Ljungqvist added that “the crime scene investigation had strengthened the suspicions of serious sabotage. Evidence has been gathered at the crime scene and these will now be examined.”
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But he did not reveal details as he cited the confidentiality of the investigation. He said that “the issue is very sensitive.”
It is noteworthy that all four leaks are in the Baltic Sea off the Danish island of Bornholm. Two leaks were located in the Swedish exclusive economic zone and the other two in the Danish one.
The leaks in the Nord Stream gas pipelines, which connect Russia to Europe, have been blamed on sabotage as many experts have also claimed that various armed forces in the region are capable of such an operation.
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In the past, Germany, Denmark and Sweden have openly noted that these were attacks that caused gas from the two Russian-owned gas pipelines to flow into the sea.
Even Russia has also said that sabotage was a possibility and opened an “international terrorism” investigation by the FSB security service.
The leaks are at the center of an energy shutdown as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which caused an energy crisis in Europe, has further escalated.
Amid the controversy, claims and counterclaims have been made as both Moscow and Washington denied involvement in the incident.
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