A Swedish probe discovered no conclusive proof to recommend {that a} Chinese language ship had intentionally dragged its anchor to break two Baltic Sea cables, Sweden’s Accident Investigation Authority stated on Tuesday, although a separate investigation stays below approach.
The Yi Peng 3 bulk provider has been below investigation for dragging its anchor and breaching two subsea fiber-optic communications cables in Swedish financial waters, one linking Finland and Germany and the opposite connecting Sweden to Lithuania, on November 17-18 final yr.
“It can’t be decided with certainty whether or not a Chinese language ship deliberately broken knowledge cables within the Baltic Sea,” the federal government authority, which investigates accidents and incidents, stated in an announcement.
Learn extra: Sweden Seizes Ship Suspected of Sabotage in Baltic Sea
Swedish prosecutor Henrik Soderman informed Reuters he was nonetheless investigating the case in a separate probe, declining to offer additional element.
Investigators confronted some constraints as Chinese language authorities maintained jurisdiction over the vessel, prohibiting legal investigations and recording of interviews aboard, it stated.
China in December stated it had offered data and paperwork for the investigation into the severing of the cables, whereas its ally Russia has thus far denied involvement in any of the Baltic infrastructure incidents.
The Baltic Sea area is on excessive alert after a string of energy cable, telecom hyperlink and gasoline pipeline outages since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, and the NATO navy alliance has boosted its presence with frigates, plane and naval drones.
(Reporting by Louise Breusch Rasmussen, modifying by Stine Jacobsen, William Maclean)
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