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full screen The salvage of the bow ramp from the wreck Estonia this summer. Archive image. Photo: Magnus Lejhall/TT
Anders Eriksson survived the Estonia disaster. Now he wonders why the preliminary investigation into the sinking is not being resumed.
Anders Eriksson himself was on board the ship on September 28, 1994. Now it is clear that there will be no new preliminary investigation, or any continuation of the previously closed preliminary investigation.
Anders Eriksson questions that.
– One wonders why they haven’t even done a normal preliminary investigation. The crime classification was murder, and when it’s murder, the police usually at least do something to investigate, he says.
“Could have waited”
According to the prosecutor, nothing has come to light to indicate that a crime has been committed in connection with the sinking of the Estonia.
– I am amazed, and of course I am disappointed.
– It is strange that they have already come to that conclusion. The accident commission has not made a final commitment yet. It has now been concluded that the boat was not seaworthy. Then one might wonder why there is no preliminary investigation into the issue of responsibility.
Kent Härstedt, former member of parliament and diplomat as well as Estonia survivor, wonders why the prosecutor made the decision before the accident commission had finished its work.
– If they have had this case since 2020, one might think that they could have waited for the final report from the accident commission. All respect for their work, but when you still have an ongoing accident investigation that will soon be completed, you could have included their report in your assessment.
“Emotionally affected”
For Härstedt, the tours around Estonia in recent years have been exhausting, but he welcomes that the accident is once again being reviewed.
– Things have come to light that cause you to be emotionally affected because it is so traumatic. This thing with the holes in the hull is just part of the whole thing. The important work that the accident commission is doing now means that you look at and perhaps reevaluate things from the previous accident commission. It is very important for us survivors and for the whole society.