Sweden-Latvia cable damage probe closed due to weather
Swedish prosecutors closed their sabotage investigation into damaged Sweden-Latvia communications cable, blaming harsh weather and poor seamanship. The case was one of several recent Baltic Sea cable incidents raising infrastructure security concerns.
Swedish prosecutors closed their investigation into suspected sabotage of a communications cable between Sweden and Latvia. The cable damage occurred in the Baltic Sea earlier this year.
Prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist said the ship's anchor damaged the cable accidentally. He cited harsh weather conditions and technical failures as contributing factors.
Ljungqvist noted poor seamanship aboard the vessel also played a role. The damage was discovered on January 26, 2024.
This case was one of several cable incidents between November 2023 and January 2025. Authorities investigated multiple underwater cable damages during this period.
The Baltic Sea has seen increased attention on critical infrastructure security. Recent incidents highlight vulnerabilities in underwater communications networks.
Prosecutors determined no criminal intent behind the cable damage. The investigation closure suggests authorities found no evidence of state-sponsored sabotage.
International readers should note the Baltic Sea's strategic importance for European communications. Multiple undersea cables connect Nordic and Baltic countries to the wider internet.
Why does this matter? Undersea cable security has become a pressing European concern since the Nord Stream pipeline explosions. Nations now monitor critical infrastructure more closely.