Swedish authorities have been perceived about the effort against M/S Vezhen after the suspected sabotage against the underwater cable between Gotland and Latvia.
Now SVT News can tell new details about the operation during the night until Sunday.
After the Coast Guard met the ship out at sea and escorted it towards the Swedish coast, the police’s national intervention force took over.
Near the area outside Karlskrona, where the ship is right now, they struck – and celebrated itself from one of the Swedish Armed Forces helicopters.
“It was to be able to take control of the ship as quickly as possible,” says Per Engström, section manager at the police’s national operational department, NOA.
Police dogs with them
The staff from the intervention force went up to the ship’s dock, with them they had police dogs and other equipment.
– You simply secure the area and take control of the people on board, together with the Coast Guard.
Was it a voluntary choice from the ship to get into Swedish water?
– I can’t comment on that at the moment.
One of the police’s information on board has been to secure different types of evidence on behalf of the security police who handle the preliminary investigation – and Per Engström confirms that the anchor that is visible on pictures is of interest in the investigation and will be investigated by forensic technicians.
– Of course, it is included in the overall picture.
The CEO of the shipping company: accident
Vezhen is part of Bulgarian Navibulgar’s fleet. According to the shipping company’s CEO Alexander Kalchev, it was an accident due to bad weather that caused the anchor to come off and dragged along the seabed.
– Everyone has their explanations of course, but we have a criminal suspicion and it should be investigated simply, says Per Engström.
Alexander Kalchev has also criticized the operation and described the Swedish police’s actions as “a little aggressive”.
– I can have some understanding that you are surprised. But everything has been extremely quiet and the collaboration on both on board and ashore is good, says Per Engström.