Searches in the Nord Stream sabotage case take place in Germany

As part of the investigation into the explosions on the Nord Stream gas pipelines, German investigators conducted searches in Frankfurt am Oder of a person who is not a suspect but could have information about the people involved in the explosion.

According to Ukrinform, this was reported on Friday by the German newspaper Der Spiegel.

"In the investigation of the explosions on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines that occurred last fall, the authorities continue to track down clues on German soil. According to SPIEGEL, on Thursday before Trinity, investigators conducted searches in this regard in Frankfurt am Oder," the report says.

With reference to interlocutors in the security agencies, it is noted that the search took place in the house of "a person who is not an accused". The purpose of the raid was "to obtain information about the identity of a person suspected of involvement in the attacks."

German investigators assume that the persons involved in the gas pipeline bombing chartered a sailing yacht called Andromeda for the attack, which was used to move from Rostock, Germany, to the site of the gas pipeline bombing. Forged documents were used for the charter. Among other things, Bulgarian passports were found, which turned out to be fake when checked, and a Romanian document, also forged, but which used the personal data of a real person - Stefan M. (the newspaper does not give the full name - ed.).

According to the publication in Der Spiegel, the searches in Frankfurt am Oder took place in the house of relatives of this "Stefan M.", and investigators were looking for clues as to why the attackers had chosen his person.

It is noted that the most significant evidence of the use of the Andromeda is that traces of the underwater explosive octogen were found in the yacht's cabin. According to the newspaper, investigators have clues that the possible perpetrators of the gas pipeline bombing could be from Ukraine, but these could also be deliberately false clues to mislead the investigation.

It is reported that shortly after the gas pipelines were blown up, Russia was suspected of being the main culprit. The media pointed to numerous Russian ships that could have been used for sabotage.

In addition, some experts point out that blowing up the gas pipelines would have required so many explosives that it would have taken a larger ship than the Andromeda and possibly a mini-submarine to transport the explosives to the bottom of the Baltic Sea.

Author - Serhii Kolomiets, 03/06/2023