Sweden closes investigation into Nord Stream pipeline blasts

Sweden on Wednesday officially ended the investigation into the blasts of Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines, effectively ending a two-year-long battle. The Swedish Prosecution Authority said in a statement, “The conclusion of the investigation is that Swedish jurisdiction does not apply and that the investigation therefore should be closed.” In September 2022, months after Moscow invaded Ukraine, the multi-billion dollar Nord Stream pipelines carrying oil from Russia to Germany exploded under the Baltic Sea triggered by a series of blasts in Swedish and Danish waters, releasing massive amounts of methane into the air. A preliminary investigation conducted by the Danish police shows that the pipelines were struck by powerful explosions while Swedish investigators say that they have found traces of explosives on site hinting at the possibility of sabotage.

Sweden, Denmark and Germany launched separate investigations into the Nord Stream blasts, each tightly controlling information. The Danish and German probes are still ongoing. If no conclusive evidence is found by either of the remaining investigations, the mystery behind one of the most audacious acts of infrastructure sabotage in modern history could remain unsolved. With inputs from Reuters