Suspected sabotage in Baltic Sea: Sweden probes cable damage
The Stockholm prosecutor's office announced on Sunday evening the initiation of an investigation into a possible sabotage in the Baltic Sea and the seizure of a ship suspected of damaging an underwater cable between Sweden and Latvia.
"We are currently undertaking several specific actions, but I cannot disclose what they entail due to the ongoing investigation," prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist emphasised in a statement.
Due to the threat to national interest, SAPO special services are involved in the case. The Swedish police, coast guard, and armed forces are also participating in the investigation.
Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson assured that his country is "closely cooperating with Latvia and NATO" regarding this incident.
It has not been disclosed which vessel is affected by the prosecutor's decision to seize it. According to the "Aftonbladet" newspaper's website, near Karlskrona, southeast of Sweden’s coast, there is a cargo ship Vezhen, sailing under the Maltese flag. On Friday, the vessel left the Russian port of Ust-Luga. A Swedish coast guard ship is present nearby.
Damaged fibre-optic cable
The underwater fibre-optic cable laid on the Baltic Sea floor between the west coast of Latvia and the Swedish island of Gotland was damaged on Sunday morning, as reported by Latvian media.
According to the Latvian broadcaster LSM, the damage likely resulted from an "external impact."
Disruptions in data transmission between the Latvian city of Ventspils and Gotland were recorded. So far, the damages haven't had a significant impact on service delivery in Latvia. The matter is being investigated by the authorities, and alternative methods of data transmission are being utilised, the media emphasise.
The Latvian Broadcasting and Television Centre (LVRTC) stated that the cable is located at a depth of about 50 metres, and according to preliminary information, the location of the damage is situated in Sweden's exclusive economic zone.
Latvian navy dispatched a ship
In connection with the incident, Latvia's Prime Minister Evika Silina convened a meeting of the relevant ministries and services. She emphasised that Riga is cooperating with NATO and the Baltic Sea region countries to clarify the circumstances of the incident. We have asked Sweden to participate in the investigation and have been promised all possible assistance, the head of government stated in a press conference.
The Latvian navy dispatched a patrol vessel to the region where the cable lies, and an order was issued to inspect a ship that might have been involved in the incident.
As informed, the bulk carrier Michalis San, sailing under the Maltese flag, was inspected. According to maritime tracking services, the vessel arrived from South America and, as LSM reported, was "likely heading to Russia." "No suspicious activity or anchor damage was observed on the ship," was reported after the unit inspection by the services.
At the same time, the movements of two other ships that passed through the region are being monitored, but - it was emphasised - they were outside Latvia's territorial waters and its exclusive economic zone.
The Sunday incident is another case of damage to underwater cables laid on the Baltic Sea floor.
