Sweden military hunt in “new phase” with fewer vessels

Radio Sweden
Posted: Wednesday, October 22, 2014 at 14:42 — Last Updated: Thursday, October 23, 2014 at 19:12
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Sweden's HMS Visby and two minesweepers lie moored at the jetty at Berga marine base outside Stockholm on October 22, 2014. Sweden's Armed Forces communications director, Erik Lagersten said the search for a suspected foreign vessel in Swedish waters will be heading into a new phase, suggesting the Armed Forces are toning down operations after a six-day effort.(Fredrik Sandberg/AFP/Getty Images) — Sweden’s HMS Visby and two minesweepers lie moored at the jetty at Berga marine base outside Stockholm on October 22, 2014. Sweden’s Armed Forces communications director, Erik Lagersten said the search for a suspected foreign vessel in Swedish waters will be heading into a new phase, suggesting the Armed Forces are toning down operations after a six-day effort.(Fredrik Sandberg/AFP/Getty Images)

The Swedish military announced that its search for an underwater vessel in the southern Stockholm archipelago had entered a “new phase” and would use fewer vessels.

At a press conference today at the naval base in Berga, in the Stockholm archipelago, Erik Lagersten, Information Director for the Swedish Armed Forces, said the navy would withdraw some of the naval units which were being used in the search. He stressed that this would not be a “de-escalation” and that the ships would remain on high alert.

Lagersten said that military officials had re-assessed the operation and the resources required. He said that air and land units being used in the search would remain active. He said that the military operation had been running night and day, and some boats needed maintenance.