Swedish authorities has boarded a Maltese-flagged ship, the Vezhen, as part of an investigation into the recent damage to an undersea cable in the Baltic Sea, the country’s security police confirmed.
The vessel in question, the bulk carrier Vezhen, was seized following damage to a cable between Latvia and Sweden, which occurred early on Sunday within Sweden’s exclusive economic zone.
The incident has raised concerns of potential sabotage, prompting a NATO response and an investigation by Swedish authorities.
“We can confirm that persons from Swedish authorities have been on board the vessel to carry out investigative measures,” said Johan Wikstrom, a spokesperson for Swedish Security Services. He declined to provide further details on the ongoing investigation.
The damaged undersea cable was first reported by Latvia, which indicated that the damage was likely caused by external influence. In response, NATO deployed patrol ships to the area to monitor the situation and assist with the investigation. Swedish authorities acted swiftly, with a prosecutor ordering the seizure of the *Vezhen* as part of their inquiry.
Marine Traffic data revealed that the Vezhen passed the fiber optic cable at approximately 0045 GMT on Sunday before being escorted by a Swedish coastguard vessel to Swedish waters, where it anchored later that day.
Footage from Swedish TV4 showed the ship anchored about 10 kilometers south of the Karlskrona naval base, with visible signs of a damaged anchor.
However, it remains unclear whether the *Vezhen* caused the cable damage. The Latvian navy confirmed on Sunday that three ships, including the Vezhen, were being investigated in connection with the incident.
The Bulgarian shipping company Navigation Maritime Bulgare, which operates the *Vezhen*, did not respond to requests for comment.
The incident comes amid heightened concerns over the security of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.
NATO, which had already ramped up security measures in the region, announced last week that it would deploy frigates, patrol aircraft, and naval drones to safeguard undersea cables. The alliance also reserved the right to take action against any vessel suspected of posing a security threat.
In related developments, Finnish police seised a tanker last month suspected of damaging the Estlink 2 power line and telecom cables between Finland and Estonia.
Authorities believed the damage was caused by the tanker dragging its anchor across the seabed, further emphasising the risks to vital undersea infrastructure.
Boluwatife Enome
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