The indications about the criminal nature of the leaks that appeared last week in the two Nord Stream gas pipelines are growing. Sweden's national security agency (Säkerhetspolisen) said in a statement on Thursday that its preliminary investigation "strengthens suspicions of serious sabotage", since "the crime scene investigation has shown that detonations occurred near the Nord Stream 1 and 2, within the Swedish economic zone, which caused extensive damage to gas pipelines”.
Swedish investigators seized material at the scene, which will now be analysed. "The subsequent investigation will show if someone can be suspected and then prosecuted for this crime," the note continues. Two of the four leaks occurred in waters of the economic zone of Denmark, whose preliminary investigation has not yet transpired.
However, last week both Nordic countries sent a letter to the UN about the underwater explosions linked to the case registered by their respective seismological institutes, which "probably corresponded to an explosive load of several hundred kilos".
In Germany, sources from the Federal Criminal Investigation Office (BKA) told Der Spiegel that "in the context of the high complexity of the execution of the act and the corresponding preparation, action by state actors seems likely." Finland also pointed out last week that only a state actor might be able to act on such a scale.
A Kremlin spokesman said yesterday that he did not believe the investigation could be objective without the participation of Russia, which has not been invited to take part. For now, Western countries, even speaking openly of sabotage, have not directly accused Russia. The leaks in the Danish zone ended over the weekend, and the Swedish coast guard said on Wednesday that theirs have almost disappeared as well.
In this context, Norway announced yesterday that it will limit the access of Russian fishing vessels to its ports. Russian trawlers will only be allowed to dock at three ports and will be checked. "Russia's unacceptable annexations in Ukraine, attacks on gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea and increased drone activity have prompted the government to further tighten security," said Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt, Reuters reports from Oslo.
