The Swedish investigation into the gas pipeline blasts is still at a standstill and there is still no evidence as to who might be behind it. It further claims that it is “likely to be difficult” to find out who committed the crime due to the circumstances.
Investigations into the blasts at Nord Stream 1 and 2 last year are still ongoing in various places. Recently, the Danish Energy Agency announced that it had invited the Russian state gas company Gazprom to participate in the recovery of an unknown object observed in the vicinity of the blasts, a move welcomed by Russia, which had previously denied its participation in the investigations.
In Germany, the investigation is also ongoing, but in February it concluded that there was no evidence at this stage to suggest that Russia was responsible for the attack. World-renowned journalist Seymour Hersh recently reported that the bombs that caused the blasts were planted by Norwegian and American divers during the NATO military exercise last summer.
Now prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist, who is leading the Swedish investigation, says that there are still no answers as to who is behind the attack.
– This is a crime whose circumstances are naturally difficult to investigate. The detonations took place at a depth of 80 meters on the seabed in the Baltic Sea, he said in a press release.
The investigation has previously concluded that it is a case of gross sabotage and that explosive residues have been found. Ljungqvist says that reporting on the blasts has become a “playground for various attempts at influence”, but that it does not affect the Swedish preliminary investigation.
– These speculations do not affect the preliminary investigation, which is based on the facts and information obtained from analyses, crime scene investigations and cooperation with authorities in Sweden and other countries, says Ljungqvist.
The preliminary investigation will continue where all material will be carefully analyzed with a focus on seeing if there is any Swedish interest or if Swedish security has been threatened.
– Our hope is that we will be able to establish who has committed this crime, but it can be stated that it will probably be difficult given the circumstances, he says.
