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Sweden submarine search called off | Sweden submarine search called off |
(35 minutes later) | |
The Swedish military has called off its week-long search for a suspected submarine in the sea south of Stockholm, officials say. | The Swedish military has called off its week-long search for a suspected submarine in the sea south of Stockholm, officials say. |
Naval vessels and planes have been searching the Stockholm archipelago for the last week, amid suspicions a Russian submarine was in trouble there. | Naval vessels and planes have been searching the Stockholm archipelago for the last week, amid suspicions a Russian submarine was in trouble there. |
Russia's defence ministry denied any of its ships were involved. | Russia's defence ministry denied any of its ships were involved. |
The vessel, whatever it was, is now believed to have left Sweden's territorial waters. | |
The Swedish operation was reported to have been the country's biggest military mobilisation since the Cold War. | |
In a statement, the military said (in Swedish): "This means the bulk of ships and amphibious forces have returned to port." It added that some smaller units would remain in the area. | In a statement, the military said (in Swedish): "This means the bulk of ships and amphibious forces have returned to port." It added that some smaller units would remain in the area. |
Rear Admiral Anders Grenstad told reporters: "We assess that the [vessel] that violated our waters has now left." | |
"It's the assessment of the defence forces that probably foreign underwater activity has taken place in Stockholm's inner archipelago," he said, calling any such activity within Swedish territory "unacceptable". | |
The military believed at least one vessel was involved, he said, adding that it was probably not a large submarine, but "a small vessel". | |
Hundreds of people were said to be involved in the search, that the military said was based on "several credible operations". | |
Swedish officials had not said which country they thought was behind the "underwater activities", but there were widespread suspicions that the Russian navy was involved. | Swedish officials had not said which country they thought was behind the "underwater activities", but there were widespread suspicions that the Russian navy was involved. |
Russian officials have repeatedly denied any involvement, with a defence ministry statement saying: "There have been no extraordinary, let alone emergency situations, involving Russian military vessels." | Russian officials have repeatedly denied any involvement, with a defence ministry statement saying: "There have been no extraordinary, let alone emergency situations, involving Russian military vessels." |
Whatever the answers, what is clear is that Sweden's underwater defences are not up to scratch, the BBC's Malcolm Brabant reports. | |
A new submarine hunting helicopter is not due to come into service for a number of years, our correspondent adds. | |
Soviet submarine sightings caused Cold War security alerts in Sweden in the 1980s. | Soviet submarine sightings caused Cold War security alerts in Sweden in the 1980s. |
Russia's military intervention in Ukraine this year has fuelled suspicion about its intentions towards other neighbouring states, notably in the Baltic. | Russia's military intervention in Ukraine this year has fuelled suspicion about its intentions towards other neighbouring states, notably in the Baltic. |
On Tuesday, Nato said its jets intercepted a Russian spy plane that had briefly entered Estonian airspace. | On Tuesday, Nato said its jets intercepted a Russian spy plane that had briefly entered Estonian airspace. |
Russia said the plane had been on a training flight and had not violated Estonian airspace. | Russia said the plane had been on a training flight and had not violated Estonian airspace. |
Sweden is not part of Nato but has tightened its ties with the alliance. | Sweden is not part of Nato but has tightened its ties with the alliance. |
It signed a pact with Nato on 5 September, allowing it to engage in joint training exercises, and receive assistance from Nato troops in emergencies. | It signed a pact with Nato on 5 September, allowing it to engage in joint training exercises, and receive assistance from Nato troops in emergencies. |