The probe has not established any likely suspects, according to prosecutors
A gas leak as seen from a Danish F-16 fighter jet following the explosions at the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline off the island of Bornholm, Denmark on September 27, 2022. © AFP PHOTO / DANISH DEFENCE
Swedish prosecutors say they will drop their investigation into the explosions that damaged the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines due to not having established any likely suspects, the tabloid Aftonbladet has reported.
Built to deliver Russian natural gas to Germany via the Baltic Sea, the pipelines were rendered inoperable by a series of powerful explosions in September 2022. Germany, Sweden, and Denmark each launched their own national probes into the incident after failing to agree on a joint effort.
Swedish prosecutor Mats Ljungkvist, who led the criminal investigation, was cited as saying that there was nothing to indicate that Sweden or Swedish citizens were involved in the Nord Stream sabotage, which took place in international waters.
“The preliminary investigation has been systematic and thorough,” said the prosecutor, adding that “Among other things, a large number of ship movements have been analyzed in order to understand what has happened.”
“In addition to that, an extensive crime scene investigation has been carried out and several interrogations have been held in the matter.” Ljungkvist said that as a result of these efforts it was concluded that Swedish jurisdiction did not apply in the case.
“The conclusion of the investigation is that Swedish jurisdiction does not apply and that the investigation therefore should be closed,” the Swedish Prosecution Authority was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Several leading German news outlets, including Suddeutsche Zeitung, NDR, WDR, and Zeit, had predicted that Sweden would close its investigation after failing to identify any suspects. The move will benefit German investigators, the news outlets said, because Sweden will be able to share evidence with them once its own case is closed.
“The German preliminary investigation continues and due to the secrecy, that prevails for international legal cooperation, I cannot comment further on the cooperation that has taken place,” Ljungkvist concluded.
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