A guard working at the US embassy in Norway was arrested on suspicion of espionage for Russia and Iran, a representative of the Norwegian security police reported on Thursday.
A 20-year-old Norwegian citizen was arrested at his home on Wednesday, the police reported. On Thursday, the court ruled that he could be detained for four weeks, with the first week in isolation while the police conduct an investigation, writes Reuters.
According to the police, the detainee is cooperating with the police, and a "large amount" of digital materials was confiscated during the search.
The detainee's lawyer, John Elden, stated that his client had contact with Russian and Iranian intelligence officers. "He explained his contacts with intelligence agents from Russia and Iran, but it is unclear whether he possessed secret information that would mean espionage laws could be applied against him," Elden told Reuters, adding that further investigation will show whether he is guilty of a crime or not.
Meanwhile, the Norwegian state channel NRK, citing court materials, writes that even information about visitors to the American embassy under certain circumstances may constitute secret information.