Riga/Stockholm (dpa -AfX) – The Swedish public prosecutor’s office is investigating a suspected “severe sabotage” after the damage to an Baltic Sea cable and has set a suspicious ship. The police, coast guard and the Swedish armed forces would work intensively on the preliminary examination, said prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist, according to the evening. Under which flag the fixed ship drives, it was initially not known.
The data cable between Sweden and Latvia in the sea area between Ventenspils and Gotland was damaged in the early morning, and the Latvian State Radio and Television Center was used. Both states examine the incident together with NATO. “The presence of the Allies in the region enables a quick and coordinated reaction,” said a NATO spokesman for the German Press Agency.
In the past few weeks, alleged sabotage files caused a sensation from the so -called Russian shadow fleet of cables and lines in the Baltic Sea. The damage is said to have been deliberately caused by ship anchors. Russia has been waging a war against Ukraine for almost three years.
Latvian marine controls ship on the way to Russia
Before the message from Sweden, the Latvian Navy had sent a patrol ship to a ship that was near the damage site. No suspicious activities or damage to the anchor were found, said Marine boss Maris Polencs. The controlled ship is on the way to Russia and is waiting for the next approval for the onward journey. Two other ships were identified in the area of the damage, the Latvian armed forces said.
The EU foreign commissioner Kaja Kallas announced to X of wanting to talk to the European Union’s outside ministers on Monday about how to better prevent and react to this in view of the Russian campaign.
The cause of the cable damage is still unclear. The damage lies in the exclusive economic zone of Sweden, as was announced during a press conference in Latvia. The Latvian radio and television center reported that the cable was “considerably” damaged. The damage has no effect on data transmission of Latvian end users.
Latvia’s Prime Minister Evika Silina had called a meeting of the responsible ministries and services. The Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristerson wrote on X, Sweden, Latvia and NATO working closely together ./MJ/dp/zb