Two other investigations had been opened, in Germany and Sweden. The Swedish prosecutor’s office closed its investigations at the beginning of February without any prosecution. The investigation is still ongoing in Germany.
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The Danish police announced on Monday February 26 that they were closing their investigation into the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea in September 2022. “Based on the investigation, the authorities can conclude that the sabotage of the gas pipelines was intentional. At the same time, they believe that there is no basis for further criminal investigation in Denmark.”explains the Danish police.
Moscow denounced a decision “absurd”. “On the one hand, we recognize that there was a premeditated act of sabotage, but on the other hand, there is no progress”, declared Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. Two other investigations had been opened, in Germany and Sweden. The Swedish public prosecutor’s office closed its investigations at the beginning of February without any prosecution, judging that the facts were not within its jurisdiction. The investigation is still ongoing in Germany.
A “complex and in-depth” investigation
On September 26, 2022, four huge gas leaks preceded by underwater explosions took place a few hours apart on Nord Stream 1 and 2, pipelines connecting Russia to Germany and transporting most of Russian gas to Europe. The explosions occurred near the Danish island of Bornholm but “outside Danish territorial waters”, specifies the country’s police. Denmark, Germany and Sweden collaborated on the investigation, described as “complex and in-depth”also carried out in cooperation with the Danish intelligence services (PET).
“PET continues to monitor the evolving threat and, together with other relevant authorities, continually implements measures deemed necessary to protect Denmark’s critical infrastructure.”, underlines the Danish police. Responsibility for the explosions was attributed, according to various media investigations, to Ukraine, Russia or the United States, but all denied it.