Sweden: Traces of explosives found in Baltic pipeline

Swedish investigators have found traces of explosives in the Baltic Sea where two natural pipelines were damaged in an act of “severe sabotage”, prosecutors leading an initial Swedish investigation said.

Mats Ljungqvist of the Swedish Prosecutor’s Office said investigators had carefully documented the area where the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines ruptured in September.

Parallel subsea pipelines run from Russia to Germany.

“The analysis carried out revealed that several foreign objects found at the scene had traces of explosives,” Mr Ljungqvist said in a statement on Friday.

Prosecutors said the initial investigation was “very complex and comprehensive” and that further examination would reveal whether anyone could be charged with “suspected crimes”.

Investigators in Sweden, Denmark and Germany are looking into what happened.

Danish officials confirmed in October that a “powerful explosion” caused extensive damage to the pipeline.

The spill happened on the high seas, but within the exclusive economic zones of Denmark and Sweden.

Investigators did not say who they believe may have been responsible.

Nord Stream 1 carried Russian gas to Germany until Moscow cut off supplies in late August.

The Nord Stream 2 was never put into service because Germany suspended its certification process shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine in February.