Lead prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist described the incident in the Baltic Sea in late September as “gross sabotage,” adding that “traces of explosives” were found at the scene, broadcaster CNN reported.
The investigation will continue and has yet to determine any charges, Ljungqvist said in a statement, according to CNN.
The Swedish prosecutor’s office declined to give further comment, the Reuters news agency reported.
Swedish and Danish authorities have been investigating four holes in the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, which link Russia and Germany via the Baltic Sea, CNN reported.
European security officials in September spotted Russian navy support ships in the vicinity of mysterious leaks in the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines from Russia to Europe, according to a report.
Russian submarines were also observed not far from those areas, according to an intelligence official cited by CNN in late September.
The sightings cast suspicion on Russia as the only player in the region believed to be capable of and motivated to deliberately damage the pipelines, according to CNN.
Poland’s prime minister said in early October that the leaks in the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream gas pipelines were “most likely an act by Russia.”
Poland’s Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau said in Washington in September that Russia may have damaged the pipelines “to deepen European divisions over how to ensure energy security.”
(gs)
Source: PAP, CNN, Reuters