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Sweden widens 'foreign activity' hunt off Stockholm Sweden widens 'foreign activity' hunt off Stockholm
(about 4 hours later)
The Swedish navy has widened its search in the waters off Stockholm amid suspicions that a Russian submarine might be in trouble there.The Swedish navy has widened its search in the waters off Stockholm amid suspicions that a Russian submarine might be in trouble there.
A Swedish source told the BBC an underwater vessel was spotted in waters about 25km (16 miles) from Stockholm.
It is the fourth day of the search, involving ships and helicopters.It is the fourth day of the search, involving ships and helicopters.
Russia's defence ministry denied any "irregular situation" involving its ships. It said a Dutch submarine might have triggered Sweden's alert, after carrying out exercises in the area. Russia's defence ministry denied any "irregular situation" involving its ships, and said a Dutch submarine might have triggered Sweden's alert.
But this theory has been dismissed by the Dutch defence ministry. However, this theory has been dismissed by the Dutch defence ministry.
"It was definitely not a Dutch submarine," a ministry spokeswoman in The Hague told the BBC."It was definitely not a Dutch submarine," a ministry spokeswoman in The Hague told the BBC.
'Pattern of incidents'
The Swedish military said it was investigating "foreign underwater activity". It denied looking for a submarine, and said that it was conducting an intelligence operation.
A Swedish official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the BBC air space around the search area had been closed on Monday.
He said he doubted the incident could have been a navigating error, as the Stockholm archipelago is a difficult area to navigate.
When asked why an underwater vessel would have entered waters off Sweden, the official said: "It's always about testing the Swedish response to see if we are awake and able to detect it... it's a way of testing our skills in detecting and locating."
Sweden was keeping an open mind about which country was behind the incident, the official said, adding that there had been a similar pattern of incidents in the past.
Soviet submarine sightings during the Cold War caused security alerts in Sweden in the 1980s.
Swedish radio says the search area has expanded to include more islands out into the Baltic, further away from Stockholm.Swedish radio says the search area has expanded to include more islands out into the Baltic, further away from Stockholm.
Swedish news website The Local says vessels and troops have been deployed from Moeja, north of Stockholm, to Ornoe, south of the capital, using sensors in an operation "continuing day and night".Swedish news website The Local says vessels and troops have been deployed from Moeja, north of Stockholm, to Ornoe, south of the capital, using sensors in an operation "continuing day and night".
The Baltic region has seen heightened tension in recent months as the conflict in eastern Ukraine has reawakened fears about Russian aggression. Soviet submarine sightings during the Cold War caused security alerts in Sweden in the 1980s. A local newspaper said Sweden had intercepted a distress signal in Russian.
The Swedish military says it is investigating "foreign underwater activity". It denied looking for a submarine, and said that it was conducting an intelligence operation. The Baltic region has seen heightened tension in recent months as the conflict in eastern Ukraine has reawakened fears about Russian aggression.
However, a local newspaper said Sweden had intercepted a distress signal in Russian.
On Sunday Sweden's Rear Admiral Anders Grenstad said "it's likely that foreign underwater activity is taking place in the Stockholm archipelago".On Sunday Sweden's Rear Admiral Anders Grenstad said "it's likely that foreign underwater activity is taking place in the Stockholm archipelago".
"Over the last few days, observations have been made in three different locations, and we consider all those observations to be very credible.""Over the last few days, observations have been made in three different locations, and we consider all those observations to be very credible."
He added that "this is an area of interest to foreign powers", though he avoided naming Russia.He added that "this is an area of interest to foreign powers", though he avoided naming Russia.
Russia has several submarines based in Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave bordered by Poland and Lithuania and facing out to Sweden, as well as a much bigger force near Murmansk on the Kola Peninsula.Russia has several submarines based in Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave bordered by Poland and Lithuania and facing out to Sweden, as well as a much bigger force near Murmansk on the Kola Peninsula.
Last month, another Swedish newspaper, Expressen, reported an incursion by two Russian Sukhoi Su-24 fighter bombers into national airspace. Sweden scrambled jets to see them off, it said.Last month, another Swedish newspaper, Expressen, reported an incursion by two Russian Sukhoi Su-24 fighter bombers into national airspace. Sweden scrambled jets to see them off, it said.