Sweden investigates Baltic cable sabotage, suspicious ship seized
The Swedish Security Service has launched an investigation into possible sabotage following the failure of an undersea cable in the Baltic Sea. According to the website aftonbladet.se, a suspicious ship has been detained. It was sailing from the Russian port of Ust-Luga.
Latvian media reported on Sunday morning (Eastern Time) that an undersea fiber-optic cable laid on the Baltic Sea bed between the western coast of Latvia and the Swedish island of Gotland was damaged. According to the Latvian broadcaster LSM, the damage likely resulted from "an external impact."
Data transmission between the Latvian cities of Ventspils and Gotland was disrupted. However, the damage has not yet significantly affected service delivery in Latvia. As media reports emphasize, the authorities are investigating the matter, and other methods of data transmission are being used.
The Latvian Broadcasting and Television Center (LVRTC) reported that the cable is about 164 feet deep. Preliminary information suggests that the damage is within Sweden's exclusive economic zone.
Swedish authorities have investigated the incident, suspecting that the undersea cable in the Baltic Sea was intentionally damaged.
The investigation is being conducted by several institutions, including the National Operational Department of the Police, the Coast Guard, and the Armed Forces. Prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist, who is leading the case, stated that Swedish authorities are making intensive efforts to examine the incident, as reported by the website aftonbladet.se.
According to information from the site, authorities have detained a ship suspected of being involved in the sabotage. It is reportedly the bulk carrier Vezhen, flying under the Maltese flag. The ship allegedly set sail from the Russian port of Ust-Luga in the Leningrad region on Friday morning.
The ship was seized based on a decision by the Swedish Prosecutor's Office. The authorities have not yet provided further details about the case.
