Re: The mystery of the mysterious operatives
More intriguing:
Even though there are plenty of Idorts in Need of Undorking in the more fanatic [#diety] segment who would believe simply cutting a cable would cure the Evil of the Internet, and would be quite happy to give their lives to have a go at it...
You. Just. Do. Not. Cut. A. Major. Cable. With. Your. Bare. Hands.
Given the power and traction you have underwater you need some serious equipment to get the job done. There's nothing in the pictures, or the other reports about this that shows:
-highly specialised equipment to do a clean cut.
-acetylene burners to do a rough job.
-explosives ( of the rather sophisticated variety, but it would look like a packaged turkey to most punters.)
YMMV regarding fanaticism, but this sounds like either a red herring, or a truly botched job.