Finland Police Suspect Four People in Baltic Sea Subsea Cable Breach Case
Investigation into Baltic Sea Subsea Cable Damage
Background of the Incident
HELSINKI, June 5 (Reuters) - Finnish police investigating last year's damage to two subsea telecommunication cables in the Baltic Sea said on Friday that four people are suspected of a crime, and that prosecutors will decide on any charges.
Seizure of the Fitburg Cargo Ship
Finland seized the Fitburg cargo ship on December 31 while en route from Russia to Israel on suspicion of damaging cables running from Helsinki across the Gulf of Finland to Estonia, one of a string of such incidents in recent years.
Details of the Police Investigation
Police on Friday said they had investigated suspected aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage and aggravated interference with telecommunications, and that the case was being referred to prosecutors for possible charges.
Status of the Suspects
"The investigation concluded with four suspects, three of whom remain subject to a travel ban," the police said in a statement.
Regional Security Concerns
The Baltic Sea region is on high alert after a string of power cable, telecom link and gas pipeline outages since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, and NATO has boosted its military presence with frigates, aircraft and naval drones.
(Reporting by Essi Lehto, editing by Terje Solsvik)
