Finnish police are inclined to believe that Balticconnector damaged a Chinese anchor

The Chinese ship Newnew Polar Bear may be involved in the damage to the Balticconnector gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia, Finnish Police Commissioner Risto Lohi said. transmits press service.

“Technical investigations are still ongoing, although active investigation of the scene has now concluded. At this point, it can be stated that the anchor raised from the sea on October 24, 2023 may belong to Newnew Polar Bear,” the report says.

Lohi added that the Finnish side has contacted the Chinese authorities and has prepared “an international request for legal assistance to obtain information and deepen cooperation in the investigation of the case.”

The Chinese ship Newnew Polar Bear was flying the flag of Hong Kong, law enforcement agencies previously clarified. October 24 at the Finnish Central Criminal Police statedthat the trajectory of the vessel corresponds to the time and location of the gas pipeline damage.

Then the police noted that the version of Russian involvement in the incident at the facility was not considered a priority.

On the afternoon of October 8, Finnish Gasgrid reported a drop in pressure in the Balticconnector at night. According to the company, the cause could be a leak. The Finnish government later admitted that this may have been due to a deliberate act. On October 11, the Finnish government’s Foreign and Security Policy Committee reported that the damage could have been caused by “external activities.”