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The gas pipelines run through the Baltic Sea at a depth of 70 meters - but there are also some contaminated sites from a past war
Photo: Rune Dyrholm / dpa
Old WWII ammunition complicates investigations into alleged sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
Despite this, the investigation is ongoing and "on the right track," said Danish Defense Minister Morten Bodskov on Thursday at a NATO meeting in Brussels.
It is "a zone with - used and unused ammunition - from the Second World War," Bodskov told journalists.
"There's a lot of stuff lying around on the seabed, so it's not that easy," he explained.
First investigations from Sweden indicate sabotage
At the end of September, large leaks were initially discovered in three tubes of the gas pipelines.
Shortly thereafter, it became clear that the pipes laid at a depth of around 70 meters had been completely destroyed by explosives.
Because of the complexity of such an action, the Western secret services assume that only a state actor is capable of doing it.
The Swedish government said their initial investigations indicated sabotage.
Bodskov said investigations would continue under Danish leadership with Sweden and Germany.
The results would "obviously" be published, he added.
Russia had asked to be involved in investigating the leaks in international waters.
However, this was rejected by Denmark and Sweden.
The Russian embassy then questioned the outcome of the investigation.
The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office had opened preliminary proceedings against unknown persons because of the attacks.
The Karlsruhe authorities are investigating suspected intentional causes of an explosives explosion and anti-constitutional sabotage.
muk/AFP
