According to Swedish officials, an examination of two of the breaches at the Nord Stream pipelines connecting Russia to Europe has confirmed concerns that they were the result of acts of sabotage.
Public prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist stated in a statement that “we can conclude that there have been detonations at Nord Stream 1 and 2 in the Swedish exclusive economic zone that have resulted in substantial damage to the gas pipelines.”
The “crime scene investigation had increased the allegations of serious sabotage,” Ljungqvist continued.
The prosecutor declared, “Evidence pieces have been obtained at the crime site and they will now be analysed.
The prosecutor withheld information because “the topic is exceedingly delicate,” citing the investigation’s secrecy.
The Baltic Sea is home to all four of the leaks, which were all found on Monday of last week and are all close to the Danish island of Bornholm.
Two of the leaks were found in the exclusive economic zone of Sweden, and the other two were found in that of Denmark.
The Swedish Prosecution authority said on Monday that it had blocked off the area around the leaks in the Swedish zone so that an inspection could be done there.
The limitations were eased when the examination was finished, the authorities announced on Thursday.
Geopolitical concerns have been centred on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, which link Russia to Germany. Russia stopped gas supplies to Europe in what is believed to be retribution for Western sanctions following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
The pipes were both carrying gas before they were apparently sabotaged, despite the fact that they are not currently in use.
Moscow and Washington have both denied taking credit for the leaks.
