Swedish police are investigating a case of attempted sabotage targeting the water supply on the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea, according to an anonymous source cited by the newspaper Aftonbladet. The source reports that the entire island might have been left without water if the sabotage had not been discovered.

The report comes amid a number of recent incidents of damage to infrastructure in the region, which have been blamed on Russian hybrid warfare.

The threat to Gotland’s water supply

Aftonbladet cited the region’s head of water and sewage services, Susanne Bjergegard-Pettersson, as saying saboteurs had caused a pump stoppage at a lake that supplies “large parts of Gotland.” According to Aftonbladet, an anonymous source has informed them that an incident took place which is currently being handled by the police.

A Swedish Security Service spokesperson told Reuters that the incident is being handled by the police and that they are aware of the situation. However, a police spokesperson would not comment on the story.

Officials who examined the damage on Sunday said there was evidence of “human influence.” Patrik Johansson of the region’s water and sewage services said it was “not an accidental act,” and that someone had “turned the pump off and pulled out a cable.” A police spokesperson would not comment on the story. Officials have since reassured Gotland residents that the water supply is not in danger.

In early February, Swedish investigators concluded that damage to an undersea cable east of Gotland was not a result of intentional sabotage and released a suspected ship.

More to follow…

Edited by: Rob Turner