S. Embassy in Oslo

A Norwegian student in his 20s has been apprehended on charges of spying for Russia and Iran while employed as a security guard at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo. The student, who remains unidentified, is currently detained for four weeks, according to Norwegian authorities.

This individual also manages a security firm together with a person who holds dual citizenship in Norway and an undisclosed Eastern European nation, as reported by Norwegian public broadcaster NRK. The Oslo police are set to review the operational license of the said security company.

Norway’s domestic intelligence agency, PST, announced that the arrest took place in the suspect's garage on Wednesday. He is under suspicion of compromising national security through intelligence activities.

The court's arrest warrant disclosed that police discovered communication records indicating the student had been directed in his espionage conduct, according to NRK. The student has acknowledged gathering and sharing intelligence with both Russian and Iranian authorities.

During a news conference, PST spokesperson Thomas Blom confirmed that the student was employed as a security guard at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo. Currently, there are no further suspects in this investigation.

John Christian Elden, the accused’s attorney, told NRK that while his client admits to working for a foreign nation, he denies the espionage charges. Elden mentioned, "He is charged with having obtained information that could harm the security situation of third countries."

Further revelations indicate that the student is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in security and preparedness at Norway’s Arctic University, UiT. Interestingly, this is the second espionage-related incident connected to UiT in recent years. Another individual from UiT, initially posing as Brazilian guest researcher José Assis Giammaria, was identified as Russian intelligence officer Mikhail Valeryevich Mikushin during a major prisoner exchange in August.