CAMPAIGNERS joined calls on Thursday for an independent investigation into allegations that the United States was responsible for blowing up the Nord Stream pipeline last year.

Award-winning investigative journalist Seymour Hersh provided evidence in a substack article on February 8 that showed the United States “executed a covert sea operation” to blow up the pipeline last September.

During an interview with Democracy Now on Tuesday the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist dubbed the sabotage of the pipeline as “the dumbest US act in years.”

Referring to the attack on the German government-owned facility, Mr Hersh said Washington treated European Union states as “second-rate partners.”

“When you have friends like the US, who needs enemies,” he added.

The US has denied any involvement in the explosion.

But before the conflict in Ukraine began President Biden bragged: “If Russia invades … then there will no longer be a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it.”

Russia has challenged the US to prove that it did not destroy the pipeline.

On Wednesday a spokesperson for the Russian embassy in the US said: “We qualify the incident as an act of international terrorism that requires a comprehensive and independent investigation.”

On Thursday, the Russian Duma adopted a draft appeal to the United Nations security council proposing an investigation into the explosions.

Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said “an objective, impartial and professional investigation into the explosions” was needed, and those responsible “must be held to account.”

Left German Member of Parliament Sevim Dagdelen said she wanted “to know what Chancellor [Olaf] Scholz learned from US President Biden about the destruction of Nord Stream.”

Irish member of the European Parliament Clare Daley said: “Then along comes Seymour Hersh, the world’s most acclaimed living investigative journalist, who produced a detailed claim that the US and Norway executed the Nord Stream gas explosion.

“I find it jaw-dropping the complete lack of curiosity among EU elites as to who is responsible for an act of sabotage against the infrastructure of an EU member state and the livelihoods of our citizens.”

Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin tweeted: “Don’t believe Seymour Hersh re blowing up of Nord Stream pipeline? Then do your own investigation — a real one — and tell us your results!”