German defence minister says damage to Baltic data cables appears to be sabotage

Boris Pistorius was speaking in Brussels (Christophe Ena/AP)

Germany’s defence minister said officials had to assume damage to two data cables under the Baltic Sea, one of which ends in Germany, was caused by sabotage — although he said they had no proof at present.

Damage was detected on Monday to the C-Lion1 cable that runs nearly 750 miles (1,200km) from the Finnish capital, Helsinki, to the
German port city of Rostock. Another cable between Lithuania and Sweden was also damaged.