A man has been charged by the RCMP for intentionally cutting a subsea fibre optic cable connecting Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, but authorities clarified that the suspect did not have intentions to harm critical infrastructure or national security. The 33-year-old individual from Ingonish, Nova Scotia, was apprehended and charged with mischief causing over $5,000 in damage.
The incident occurred on December 24 last year when the Bell Canada cable was severed near Aspy Bay in Cape Breton. It was speculated that the cable might have been accidentally cut after getting tangled with a boat’s anchor. The cable, encased in protective thick wire, serves as a vital link for internet, television, and long-distance communication between the two provinces.
Upon inspection, it was evident that the cable had been deliberately sliced using a specialized tool, as indicated by the RCMP in February. Following a comprehensive investigation that involved collaboration with the federal Fisheries Department and a search warrant executed on a vessel in Ingonish, the RCMP confirmed that the man’s actions were unrelated to national security or infrastructure sabotage.
Although the motive behind the cable cutting remains undisclosed, RCMP Cpl. Cory Stead emphasized that the individual’s actions were not driven by harmful intentions towards national security or essential infrastructure. The cable spans approximately 130 kilometers across the Cabot Strait, from Dingwall, Nova Scotia, to Codroy in Newfoundland. After repairs, the cable was buried deep in the ocean floor using remotely operated vehicles.
Additionally, Stead mentioned that on January 4, 2024, another incident occurred where the cable was severed five kilometers from Aspy Bay, but insufficient evidence prevented charges from being filed.
This development comes in the wake of ongoing investigations into the deliberate severing of the subsea fibre optic cable.