Oslo police have detained a 20-year-old man working at the U.S. Embassy. He has been charged with collaborating with the intelligence services of Iran and Russia.
This was reported by NRK.
According to Norway’s Police Security Service (PST), the detainee worked as a security guard at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo. Law enforcement conducted a large-scale investigation and seized significant amounts of digital data.
Preliminary findings indicate that the man may have transmitted information that poses a threat to U.S. security interests. It is currently unclear what specific data was shared and what consequences this may have caused.
Court records reveal that the suspect was in contact with a so-called “handler,” who directed his activities as a spy.
Additionally, the defendant ran a private security business in Norway. The company’s page in the digital archive states that it offered security services for diplomatic missions, including the U.S. Embassy.
At the same time, investigators determined that at the time of his arrest, the company registered under the suspect’s name had no income or expenses. In 2022, he reportedly earned about 200,000 Norwegian kroner, equivalent to roughly $18,000.
The detained man has been charged with gathering information that could harm the security of other states, carrying a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Furthermore, he is suspected of other illegal activities that could damage the interests of third countries, punishable by up to three years of imprisonment.
The suspect denies the charges but has agreed to remain in custody for four weeks. Prosecutors must prove whether the information he collected falls under the provisions of the Criminal Code.
The U.S. Embassy in Norway has not yet commented on the case. Police stated that cooperation with U.S. authorities is ongoing, and all circumstances of the case will be thoroughly investigated.
