Nord Stream attack
German investigators searched suspicious ship
03/08/2023 10:54 am
The federal prosecutor’s office confirms parts of the reports on the results of investigations into the Nord Stream explosions. The Karlsruhe authorities say nothing about the perpetrators, motives and possible state control.
In January, the federal prosecutor’s office had a suspect ship searched in connection with the Nord Stream explosions. The Karlsruhe authority announced this at the request of the German Press Agency.
The announcement follows reports that a group of six people sailed a yacht rented from Rostock to the Baltic Sea in September to plant explosive devices on the gas pipeline.
The federal prosecutor’s office also said there was a suspicion that the ship could have been used to transport explosive devices that exploded on the pipelines on September 26, 2022, a spokeswoman for the Karlsruhe authority said. The evaluation of the seized traces and objects is ongoing. “The identity of the perpetrators and their motives are the subject of ongoing investigations,” it said. “Reliable statements on this, especially on the question of state control, cannot be made at the moment.”
Ukraine denies any involvement
Research by ARD, SWR and “Zeit” has revealed a number of alleged details from the investigation. Authorities in Germany, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and the USA were involved in the investigation. According to reports, “a pro-Ukrainian group” could be responsible for the attack on the gas pipeline – but there is no evidence.
The advisor in the Ukrainian presidential office, Mykhailo Podoliak, firmly denied any involvement by Ukraine. Ukraine has nothing to do with the accident in the Baltic Sea and no information about pro-Ukrainian sabotage groups, he tweeted.
From the US side, the communications director of the US government’s National Security Council, John Kirby, referred to the ongoing investigations in Germany and Scandinavia. “We believe it was an act of sabotage,” he said. First, the investigation must be terminated. Only then can we talk about how to proceed.
Yacht rental “apparently” belongs to two Ukrainians
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said at a news conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday that he had no further comments. Stoltenberg said they knew it was an attack, a sabotage. It would be wrong to speculate about who is behind this before the investigation is complete.
According to media reports, investigators have so far found no evidence of who commissioned the destruction. However, they identified a boat that could have been used for the Baltic Sea venture. The yacht was rented by a company based in Poland, which “apparently belongs to two Ukrainians,” it said. So far, this seems to be the only indication of a lead towards Ukraine.
Two divers, two dive assistants
The team that is said to have perpetrated the attack is said to have consisted of a captain, two divers, two diving assistants and a doctor. This group is said to have rented the yacht in Rostock on September 6th – almost three weeks before the explosions. After the ship was returned, traces of explosives were found in the ship, according to the reports, which have now been confirmed by the federal prosecutor.
According to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, the search took place from January 18 to 20 “in connection with a suspicious ship rental”. As part of the further investigations, all indications to clarify the facts will be followed up. There is no suspicion against employees of the German company that rented the ship. No further information can be given at this time.