COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Denmark joined Sweden on Monday in finalizing its investigation into the 2022 explosion that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipeline, with authorities saying there was deliberate sabotage. However, it was announced that it had concluded that there was “no sufficient basis” to pursue criminal proceedings.
Danish authorities said the investigation was “complex and comprehensive”. Copenhagen police, which jointly investigated the case with Danish security services, said it could not comment further.
The underwater explosion of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, built to transport Russian natural gas to Germany, occurred in international waters, within the economic zones of Sweden and Denmark. Sweden earlier said state actors were the most likely culprits.
The Danish investigation was one of three related to the explosion.
Nothing to see here: Sweden ends Nord Stream pipeline investigation without identifying culpritshttps://t.co/vxbKBAzs2R
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) February 7, 2024
Sweden closed the investigation on February 7, citing a lack of jurisdiction. He said the main aim of the investigation was to determine whether Sweden or its nationals were involved in any way. Swedish officials also said they had handed over to Germany “material that can be used as evidence in the German investigation.”
Kenneth Ohrenschlager-Bühl of the Royal Danish Defense College told The Associated Press that Denmark’s decision to end the investigation was expected.
“The Swedes said they had a pretty good idea who was behind it, but they didn’t have jurisdiction over who they wanted to talk to,” Ohlenschläger-Bühl said. Danes say “the same words, but slightly different words.”
“I believe that the Germans cannot come to any other conclusion,” he said. “They might open the lid a little more, but not by much.”
Germany’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office said on Monday that the investigation would continue and it would not provide further information.
The cause of the explosion has become a major international mystery.
No evidence so far that Russia was involved in the Nord Stream explosion, German investigators admit https://t.co/a70TQmJ04o
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) February 4, 2023
The explosion came as Europe sought to wean itself off Russian energy sources in the wake of the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, contributing to tensions after the start of the war.
The undersea explosion destroyed the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which was Russia’s main natural gas supply route to Germany until Russia cut off supplies at the end of August 2022.
They also damaged the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which was never put into service because Germany halted the certification process just before Russia invaded Ukraine in February of that year.
The pipeline explosion occurred at a depth of about 80 meters (260 feet) on the ocean floor in the Baltic Sea. Seismic measurements showed that the explosion occurred just before the leak was discovered.
Months after the explosion, there is still no accepted explanation. Russia has accused the US of staging the explosion, a charge the US government denies.
In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “The situation borders on absurdity.”
‘False claims of epic proportions’ – UK denies blowing up Nord Stream, ordering attack on Russian fleet https://t.co/cziY9ERbDe
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) October 29, 2022
“On the one hand, there was intentional sabotage, and on the other hand, the investigation is not making any progress.” “The situation is so clear that I can only express utter surprise,” he said.
The pipeline has long been the subject of criticism from the United States and some allies, who have warned it poses a risk to Europe’s energy security by increasing dependence on Russian gas.
In March 2023, German media reported that pro-Ukrainian groups used ships to leave the German port of Rostock and engage in sabotage activities. Ukraine rejected suggestions that it may have ordered the attack, and German officials expressed alarm at the accusations.
Swedish prosecutors have previously suggested that the identity of the culprit is likely to remain unknown.
Beyond the geopolitical implications, the Nord Stream pipeline leak is a major environmental disaster with local wildlife affected and large amounts of methane released into the Baltic Sea, analysts say. believe it may be the largest methane release caused by human activity.
