EU threatens strongest possible response for 'deliberate' explosion of Nord Stream pipeline

The European Union has warned of the strongest possible response, after it says two major leaks in gas pipelines from Russia to Europe were caused by sabotage.

However, the EU has stopped short of accusing Vladimir Putin and Russia of the incident.

The alleged 'sabotage' that took place on the Nord Stream gas pipeline caused a 3,000ft-wide bubble plume and sent gas prices higher once again.

The European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen took to Twitter on Tuesday (27 September) to discuss the leaks: "Spoke to [Danish Prime Minister Mette] Frederiksen on the sabotage action Nordstream.

"Paramount to now investigate the incidents, get full clarity on events & why.

"Any deliberate disruption of active European energy infrastructure is unacceptable & will lead to the strongest possible response."

The president of the European Council, Charles Michel, agreed with von der Leyen.

On Twitter, he said: "#Nordstream sabotage acts appear to be an attempt to further destabilize energy supply to EU.

"We need an urgent and thorough investigation.

"Those responsible will be held fully accountable and made to pay."

He concluded: "Our efforts to diversify energy supply away from Russian gas continue."

The Nord Stream pipe suffered 'unprecedented' damage, with gas now leaking into the Baltic from three holes, scientists have confirmed.

Chronic safety concerns have also led to a five-mile exclusion zone being imposed around the area of the leak.

The Danish PM has said she believes the action was 'deliberate', adding the gas pipeline would be out of action for a week.

Mette Frederiksen said: "It 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."

Ukraine has even gone as far as accusing Russia of a 'terrorist attack', by Kyiv's presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak.

Sweden's prime minister, Magdalena Andersson, also believes Russia is in the wrong: "We have Swedish intelligence, but we have also received information in our contacts with Denmark, and based on this concluded that this is probably a deliberate act. It is probably a matter of sabotage," she said.

"It is not a matter of an attack on Swedish or Danish territory. But that said, the government is taking what happened very seriously, not the least in light of the current security situation on our close proximity."

However, the Kremlin has hit back on claims by large parts of Europe, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov describing the accusations of sabotage 'predictable, stupid and absurd'.