Finland suspects some state behind pipeline sabotage

Damage to the Balticconnector pipeline and a data cable was confirmed on October 10 after one of the two pipeline operators, Finland's Gasgrid, noted a pressure drop and possible leak on October 8 night during a storm.

Earlier on Thursday, Finnish intelligence said it could not rule out the possibility of a "state actor" being involved in damaging the infrastructure, Reuters reports.

Finland has said the damage was probably caused by "outside activity", renewing concern over regional energy security and pushing gas prices higher just over a year after the dramatic Nord Stream pipeline bombings.

"Involvement of a state actor in this job cannot be ruled out," Finnish Security Intelligence Service Director Antti Pelttari told reporters.

"Who is behind this is a matter for the preliminary investigation. We do not comment on it in more detail," he added.

Finnish authorities said on October 11 that "external marks" had been found on the seabed beside the damaged pipeline and that it was reviewing vessel traffic in the area at the time of the rupture.

A chief investigator also said that it currently looked like the damage was caused by "mechanical force", not an explosion.