Sweden probes foreign aquatic activity

The Swedish army has launched a large operation in an area of the Baltic Sea, following reports of suspicious “foreign underwater activity.”

Chief of operations Jonas Wikstrom said in a statement on Friday that the operation was launched around islands off the capital, Stockholm, after a “credible source” provided intelligence about an unidentified underwater sighting.

Wikstrom said that about 200 Swedish troops were taking part in the search and that no weapons had been used in the operation.

“We have begun an intelligence operation… involving ships, helicopters and several ground units,” he said.

The commanding officer did not provide any information on how close the operation was to the capital or how many submarines may have been sighted.

Jesper Tengroth, press officer for the Swedish military, also said he could not provide further information about the nature of the threat. He also said he could not comment when asked whether any particular country was thought to be responsible for the activity.

Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet, however, reported that the sighting happened on an island in Kanholmsfjarden inlet, which is located just over 50 kilometers from the center of Stockholm.

MOS/HSN/HRB