Prosecutor revokes decision on seized ship

– The investigation now clearly shows that it is not a case of sabotage. It has been established that a combination of weather conditions and deficiencies in equipment and seamanship contributed to the cable break. The investigation has been systematic and thorough in order to clarify the incident, says Senior Prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist at the National Security Unit. 

On Sunday 26 January 26 damage was discovered on a communication cable between Sweden and Latvia in the Baltic Sea. An investigation into gross sabotage was initiated and a ship suspected of being involved in the cable break was seized. The primary purpose of the investigation has been to investigate the suspicions of crimes that may have been directed against Swedish interests. 

– After interrogations, seizures that have been made and analyzed, and crime scene investigations that have been carried out, we can say with certainty that this is not a case of sabotage. At the same time, we have been able to establish that it is the ship that was seized that caused the cable break, says Mats Ljungqvist. The Security Police is conducting the investigation under the leadership of Prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist at the National Security Unit. Several authorities are involved and contributing to the investigation work. 

– We have had very good cooperation with several Swedish authorities. I would particularly like to highlight the Coast Guard and the Police Authority as well as the Armed Forces. Without the good cooperation, the investigation would not have been able to reach the investigative stage that we have now reached, says Mats Ljungqvist. 

The investigation is still continuing to determine whether there are other crimes that can be suspected in connection with the cable break.

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