Norwegian student arrested for intelligence activities targeting state secrets in Tromsø

A Norwegian citizen in his twenties, who is a student at UiT – The Arctic University of Norway, has been arrested on suspicion of severe intelligence activities targeting state secrets. The university’s rector confirmed the news, noting the significant unease it has caused within the institution. The focus now is on supporting the Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) and ensuring the well-being of staff and students who had contact with the individual.

The arrested student is enrolled in a bachelor’s program emphasizing security and emergency preparedness, a course that examines Norway’s organization in response to unwanted incidents both nationally and locally, as well as the overarching political structure governing total defense in the northern regions.

According to reports, this individual was apprehended in his garage and is accused of providing information to both Russian and Iranian authorities. The police have discovered evidence suggesting that he was in communication with an intelligence officer, a role involving guiding and directing a spy.

The PST confirmed that the man worked as a security guard at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo and has been under investigation since earlier this week, with no additional suspects currently identified. He has been remanded in custody for four weeks, during which he will have restricted communication and must be isolated from other inmates for the first week.

The defense attorney indicated that his client denies any wrongdoing yet agrees to a two-week detention, while the nature of the information he was involved with remains under scrutiny to determine its potential impact on national security. The situation continues to develop.