Norwegian (TIP) : A Norwegian student in his 20s has been arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia and Iran while working as a security guard at the US Embassy in Oslo, Norwegian authorities announced Friday. The man, whose identity has not been disclosed, was detained at his home on Wednesday. Norway’s domestic intelligence agency, PST, stated that he is accused of engaging in intelligence-related activities that could harm national security.
According to a court order cited by Norwegian broadcaster NRK, evidence includes records of his communications with a contact allegedly guiding his espionage activities. The man reportedly admitted to collecting and sharing information with Russian and Iranian authorities but denies the espionage charges, his attorney, John Christian Elden, confirmed.
“He is accused of obtaining information that could jeopardize the security of third countries,” Elden said.
The suspect co-runs a security company with a dual national of Norway and an Eastern European country. Authorities are now reviewing the company’s operating license.
The arrested man is also studying security and preparedness at Norway’s Arctic University (UiT), marking the second espionage case linked to the university. In 2022, a UiT guest researcher arrested for espionage was later revealed to be a Russian intelligence officer posing as a Brazilian academic.
Norway, which shares a 198-kilometer border with Russia, has tightened restrictions on Russian nationals since the war in Ukraine began in 2022. The government is considering building a border fence to further bolster security.
Investigations into the current case are ongoing, with PST confirming no additional suspects at this time.
(With inputs from AP)