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Finnish authorities have lifted an anchor at the damaged Balticconnector gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia. There are drag marks on the seabed both before and after the damage to the cable.
The focus of the investigation is now the Hong Kong-flagged vessel Newnew Polar Bear, which was moving at the lead at the same time when the damage occurred, reports HBL.
The captain of the Newnew Polar Bear has not agreed to a voluntary hearing. The vessel has moved in Finnish economic zone and not Finnish territorial waters and therefore the police cannot use coercive means. The work to reach and interview the captain continues according to the Finnish Central Criminal Police in cooperation with Chinese authorities.
Even when the damage was confirmed by the Finnish authorities, the police said they suspected serious sabotage. Data communication cables between Finland and Estonia and between Sweden and Estonia have also been damaged.
On Tuesday evening, the Central Criminal Police and the Border Guard will hold a press conference on the state of the investigation, in which representatives of the navy will also participate.