BREAKING: Sweden's military has deployed planes and ships in the Stockholm Archipelago against what it says is a threat from foreign submarines in the Stockholm Archipelago.Sweden’s Armed Forces say the alert is in response to "foreign underwater activity" in the Stockholm Archipelago.
In a statement on their website, the Armed Forces say a “credible source†has provided the information behind the announcement. A counter-intelligence operation is now underway in the area.
“We have support for the analysis work we are now carrying out in the area in the area form of ships, planes and territorial army personnel. The area is heavily trafficked, which is why it’s important for us to go public with information about what we’re doing,†said Jonas Wikström, commanding officer of the operation, according to the website.
Jesper Tengroth, press officer for the Swedish Military, said he could not give more information about the nature of the threat.
Asked whether any particular country was believed to be responsible for the activity, Tengroth said he could not comment.
Foreign Minister Margot Wallström’s spokesman John Zanchi confirmed that the Foreign Ministry had been informed of the events in the Archipelago, but directed further questions to the Armed Forces.
There have been numerous reports in recent months of foreign military incursions into Swedish airspace. In September, Sweden lodged a formal protest after Russian fighter jets entered Swedish skies south of the island of Öland.
Russian submarine activity around Sweden became a major cause of concern during the Cold War. The most famous of these was the submarine U137 which ran aground in a secret Swedish submarine lane in Blekinge, southern Sweden, in 1981, causing a major diplomatic crisis.
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