Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on Monday that it had thwarted a suspected terrorist attack on the Arrhenius gas carrier. The vessel had arrived from Belgium at the port of Ust-Luga in the Leningrad region. According to the agency, several magnetic mines, each containing around seven kilograms of explosives, were discovered on the underwater hull of the tanker.
Moscow stated that the explosive devices could not have been attached in Russian territorial waters. Investigators have opened a criminal case on charges of attempted terrorism. The FSB did not initially provide further details on possible suspects or the exact time of the discovery.
The incident occurs against a backdrop of rising tensions in the Baltic Sea region. Russia has repeatedly warned of alleged sabotage attempts on its critical infrastructure in the past. Belgium is a key transshipment point for Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), which continues to be imported despite EU sanctions.
Source: www.kyivpost.com
