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By Shane Croucher
Senior Editor
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There were around 30 as yet unexplained sabotage attacks on telecommunications infrastructure in Sweden, mostly along the same major road, authorities in the country have revealed.
Nothing was stolen in the attacks on masts, but cables were cut and fuses and other technical equipment destroyed, Sweden's national public broadcaster SVT Nyheter reported, citing investigators.
Newsweek has contacted the Swedish Prosecution Authority, which is leading the investigation, for comment.
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Why It Matters
Swedish investigators have not publicly identified a suspect so far, but the attacks are part of a broader trend of sabotage against Swedish telecoms infrastructure, amid reports from NATO allies of a significant increase in Russian espionage related to the Ukraine war.
Anti-5G activists have also been known to target telecoms masts for destruction in Europe, believing them to be harmful to human health.
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What To Know
The attacks began over Easter weekend, but have not led to major disruptions. However, it "stands out and is more than usual," Roger Gustafsson, head of security at the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS), told SVT.
Investigators are working on the theory that a single actor is behind the attacks, which mostly targeted infrastructure along the E22 in Sweden.
The E22, also known as the European Road, is part of a road transport network that stretches for more than 3,300 miles, connecting the U.K. in the west to Russia in the east.
Swedish security services are monitoring the investigation, and Detective Superintendent Håkan Wessung, head of serious crime in Sweden's Kalmar, told SVT that "we don't rule anything out."
Previous acts of sabotage in Sweden underscored persistent threats to critical national infrastructure.
In 2016, police investigators confirmed that a 300-meter-high (nearly 1,000 feet) telecommunications mast in southwestern Sweden was intentionally felled, leaving around 85,000 households without TV broadcasts and affecting emergency announcements.
Police suspected both pranksters and international saboteurs, with public concerns about possible Russian involvement, Reuters reported.
Similar sabotage acts have affected NATO member states previously, including Sweden, such as the cutting of key underwater communications cables in the Baltic, arson attacks on logistics facilities in Germany, and cyberattacks targeting defense firms.
What People Are Saying
Swedish prosecutor Michelle Stein, who is leading the police investigation, told SVT: "There are circumstances that make everything seem to be connected, but it is something that the investigation will have to show."
What Happens Next
Swedish authorities continue to investigate the wave of sabotage incidents, coordinating with NATO allies to monitor for further threats and to identify any perpetrators.
Ongoing international operations aim to bolster surveillance and security for critical telecommunications and undersea infrastructure in the region
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