New break in a terrestrial optical cable between Finland and Sweden, Stockholm suspects “sabotage”

Two weeks after the damage to fiber optic cables in the Baltic Sea, which sparked fears of « sabotage » and hybrid warfare, Finland is this time investigating the double rupture of a land telecommunications cable with Sweden. Monday, December 2, the telecommunications company GlobalConnect reported on its website a double break in terrestrial optical cable in Finland, one of which has already been repaired.

“The authorities are investigating this matter in collaboration with the company”announced Finnish Minister of Transport and Communications, Lulu Ranne, on X. “We are taking the situation seriously. »

For its part, the Swedish government “took note of this information. We take this seriously”declared the Swedish Minister of Civil Defense, Carl-Oskar Bohlin, in a message to Agence France-Presse. “Given the circumstances, sabotage is suspected”he added.

The Finnish police, however, clarified that the investigation launched was not an investigation “criminal”. “The police are establishing what happened, in collaboration with other authorities”she clarified.

Cut by an excavator

According to a security manager for internet service provider Elisa, quoted by the Finnish daily Helsingin Sanomatone of the ruptures, at the level of the municipality of Vihti, was caused by a backhoe loader during work on the cable and “cut by accident”.

“We have no indication at this time that this is sabotage”also declared the CEO of GlobalConnect, Martin Lippert, to the site DR. “Preliminary indications indicate that one of the cables was cut by an excavator during construction work. I don't know anything about the other yet.”he added.

This rupture comes about two weeks after the rupture of two telecoms cables in the Baltic Sea, one linking the Swedish island of Gotland to Lithuania, and the other Finland to Germany. In this investigation, suspicion is directed towards a Chinese ship, the Yi-Peng-3which according to maritime traffic monitoring sites passed over the cables when they were cut.