14 Things We Know About the Mysterious âExplosionsâ That Severely Damaged the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 Pipelines

All Global Research articles can be read in 51 languages by activating the Translate This Article button below the authorâs name.
To receive Global Researchâs Daily Newsletter (selected articles), click here.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter and subscribe to our Telegram Channel. Feel free to repost and share widely Global Research articles.
***
Something really strange just happened. On Monday, large underwater âexplosionsâ were detected in the precise areas of the sea where the Nord Stream pipeline system is now leaking. In fact, the explosions were so large that they actually registered on the Richter scale. If someone wanted to purposely damage the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, very large explosions would be needed because those pipelines are extremely thick. So it appears that this was a deliberate act of sabotage, and that is what many European officials are now alleging. But if that is the case, who was behind it?
At this point we just donât know.
But there are certain facts that we do have. The following are 14 things we know about the âmysterious explosionsâ that severely damaged the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelinesâŠ
#1 We are being told that the sections where the pipelines were damaged are â70-90 meters below sea levelâ. So someone would need to go down pretty deep to get to them.
#2 It is extremely unlikely that these pipelines could have been ruptured by accident because they are extremely thickâŠ
The steel pipe itself has a wall of 4.1 cm (1.6 inches) and is coated with steel-reinforced concrete up to 11cm thick. Each section of the pipe weighs 11 tonnes, which goes to 24-25 tonnes after the concrete is applied.
#3 It is being reported that explosions âwere heardâ in the areas where gas is now leaking out of the pipelinesâŠ
Explosions were heard near the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipes where gas is now leaking into the Baltic from three holes, scientists have confirmed, while chronic safety concerns have led to a five-mile exclusion zone being imposed around the affected area.
#4 The Swedish National Seismic Network detected one explosion that registered 1.9 on the Richter scale and another one that registered 2.3 on the Richter scaleâŠ
Two powerful underwater explosions were detected on Monday in the same area of sea as the Nord Stream gas leaks, according to the Swedish National Seismic Network.
The monitoring network said the first explosion occurred on Monday at 2:03 a.m. Swedish time with a magnitude of 1.9 on the Richter scale, followed by a second at 7:04 p.m. on the same day with a magnitude of 2.3.
#5 The largest leak is reportedly âspreading bubbles a good kilometre (3,280ft) in diameterââŠ
It comes after shocking footage released earlier today by the Danish military from a flyover of the affected region showed huge swathes of the sea near the Danish island of Bornholm churning as the gas bubbled to the surface.
A military statement claimed that the largest leak âis spreading bubbles a good kilometre (3,280ft) in diameter. The smallest is creating a circle about 200 metres (656 feet) in diameterâ, while the head of Denmarkâs Energy Agency said it could take up to a week for gas to stop draining into the sea.
#6 German officials are claiming that this was a deliberate act of sabotageâŠ
Germany is reportedly far less hesitant, however, with officials believing sabotage is virtually the only plausible cause for the leaks.
âWe canât imagine a scenario that isnât a targeted attack. Everything speaks against a coincidence,â a government official reportedly told German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel.
#7 Interestingly, this incident took place just one day after thousands of German protesters took to the streets and demanded the opening of the Nord Stream 2 pipelineâŠ
Thousands of protesters took to the streets in the northeastern German seaside town of Lubmin on Sunday, urging officials to put into service the halted Nord Stream 2 pipeline project that was designed to transport fuel from Russia to Germany.
Germany had stalled the launch of the ambitious energy project for months before putting it on the back burner in the wake of Russiaâs military operation in Ukraine, which is now in its eighth month.
#8 The prime minister of Denmark also believes that this was a deliberate act of sabotageâŠ
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said her government believes the leaks were caused by âdeliberate actionsâ, adding that the gas supply pipeline will be out of action for around a week.
She said this evening: âIt is now the clear assessment by authorities that these are deliberate actions. It was not an accident. There is no information yet to indicate who may be behind this action.â
#9 The Ukrainians are blaming the Russiansfor the explosionsâŠ
It comes after Kyivâs presidential advisor Mikhaylo Podolyak said on Twitter: âThe large-scale gas leak is nothing more than a terrorist attack planned by Russia and an act of aggression towards the EU.â
Podolyak accused Russia of seeking to âdestabilise the economic situation in Europe and cause pre-winter panicâ.
#10 It is being reported that the CIA recently warned Germany about a potential attack on the pipelinesâŠ
German magazine Spiegel said the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) recently warned Berlin about the increasing signs of a possible planned attack on the Nord Stream pipeline system.
Spiegel reported, citing unnamed sources, that the CIA tipped off Berlin in the summer about possible attacks on NS1 and NS2.
#11 A Polish member of the European Parliament seems absolutely convinced that the United States was behind the attackâŠ
A former Polish Defense Minister, Radek Sikorski, has attributed to the United States the sabotage of two pipelines, Nord Stream 1 and 2, which carry natural gas from Russia to Germany. âThank you, USA,â Sikorski wrote on Twitter. Sikorski was Minister of National Defense from 2005 â 2007 and served as Deputy Minister of National Defense and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, previously. He is currently an elected member of the European parliament.
Nord Stream 1 and 2 lie on the bed of the Baltic Sea. Nord Stream 2 was finished last year but Germany never opened it because Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.
#12 Joe Biden previously threatened to âendâ the Nord Stream 2 pipeline if Russia invaded Ukraine: âIf Russia invadesâŠthen there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it.â
#13 Victoria Nuland has also previously threatened the Nord Stream 2 pipeline: âIf Russia invades Ukraine, one way or another, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward.â
#14 Meanwhile, European officials just gathered for a ceremony âto mark the opening of the new Baltic PipeââŠ
Leaders from Poland, Norway and Denmark have attended a ceremony to mark the opening of the new Baltic Pipe, a key stage in the drive to wean Poland and Europe off Russian gas.
The pipeline will transport natural gas from the Norwegian shelf via Denmark and through the Baltic Sea to Poland. It is the centrepiece of a Polish strategy to diversify away from Russia that began years before Moscowâs February invasion of Ukraine triggered a global energy crisis.
The flows from Norway along with supplies via liquefied gas terminals are central to Polandâs plan. The country was cut off from Russian gas supplies in April, allegedly for refusing to pay in roubles.
So what does all of this mean?
I donât know.
But this certainly is not going to be good for the rapidly growing energy crisis in Europe.
It is going to be a bitterly cold winter all over the continent, and there will be a lot of anger.
As I keep warning, the comfortable lifestyles that we are all currently enjoying will soon be rudely interrupted.
Everything is changing, and a lot of pain is on the horizon.
So I would encourage you to monitor global events very, very closely in the months ahead, because they are going to have very serious implications for every man, woman and child on the entire planet.
*
Note to readers: Please click the share buttons above or below. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter and subscribe to our Telegram Channel. Feel free to repost and share widely Global Research articles.
Michael Snyder published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, which are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe.
Featured image is from InfoBrics
No comments:
Post a Comment