The joint operation carried out by the authorities in the Gulf of Finland remains active. The operation began after multiple cables were ruptured in the Baltic Sea on Christmas Day, 25 December.
The operation launched by the authorities on Christmas Day, 25 December in the Baltic Sea has continued today with various investigative actions. The operation will continue for as long as it is necessary for the purposes of the criminal investigation.
– The operation relating to the events in the Gulf of Finland will go on for several more days, explains Superintendent Heikki Porola of the Helsinki Police Department.
The Helsinki Police Department is leading the operation, and the Border Guard Service is contributing to the carrying out of the operation.
The National Bureau of Investigation is responsible for criminal investigation into the ruptured sea cables. The suspected offences are aggravated criminal mischief and aggravated interference of communications, of which the latter was filed on Saturday, 28 December. Ruptures caused to telecommunications cables are suspected meet the essential elements of the offence of aggravated interference of communications. It is possible that the offences will become more specific or even change as the criminal investigation progresses.
The National Bureau of Investigation has continued taking investigative measures and questioning of crew members on the Eagle S tanker today, Monday 30 December. The purpose is to create an overall picture of what has happened on the board, and the questionings have been carried out in good cooperation with the crew.
– The authorities have taken care of the maintenance of both the vessel and the crew during the investigation, says Detective Chief Inspector Elina Katajamäki of the National Bureau of Investigation.
In addition, the police have seized devices related to the vessel's passage, and the data contained in them is being analysed.
Due to difficult weather conditions, for example, the subsea investigation has been suspended today, continues Katajamäki.
The criminal investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation is in its initial stage and it may take several weeks or months to complete.
Photos: For example, the underwater portion of the hull of the tanker Eagle has been depicted in the subsea investigation. On the left side of the vessel, near the bow, there are several fresh paint scrapes and impact marks made by the anchor chain. Photo: Border Guard
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