Norway’s home safety company has arrested a college lecturer suspected of being a Russian spy.
The man entered the nation as a Brazilian citizen and had been detained, mentioned Martin Bernsen, a spokesman for the Norwegian Police Security Service, referred to as PST.
He mentioned the case was “huge”.
The man was detained on Monday within the Arctic metropolis of Tromso, the general public broadcaster NRK mentioned, including that investigators consider he was in Norway beneath a false identify and id whereas working for one among Russia’s intelligence companies.
The PST deputy chief Hedvig Moe informed NRK that the person had been based mostly on the Arctic University of Norway in Tromso as “a Brazilian researcher” and can be expelled from the nation “because we believe he represents a threat to fundamental national interests”.
The safety service “is concerned that he may have acquired a network and information about Norway’s policy in the northern region,” Mr Moe mentioned. “Even if this network or the information bit by bit is not a threat to the security of the kingdom, we are worried that the information could be misused by Russia.”
Mr Moe informed NRK the Norwegian company had collaborated with the safety companies of different unspecified international locations.
“International co-operation is important in the work with illegals because they are very careful and are often good at hiding and operating for a long time in the country,” he mentioned.
Jørgen Fossland, the college’s administrator, mentioned the particular person in query was “a guest lecturer” and was apprehended on his strategy to work on Monday.
The man, who has neither Russian nor Norwegian citizenship, arrived within the nation final yr and has researched the northern areas and hybrid threats, Norwegian media wrote. Norway’s Arctic border with Russia is 123 miles lengthy.
The man’s lawyer, Thomas Hansen, informed the VG newspaper he denies any wrongdoing. On Tuesday the person was detained for 4 weeks by a neighborhood courtroom.
Several Russian residents have been arrested in Norway in current weeks.
Three males and a lady have been allegedly seen taking pictures in central Norway of banned objects. They have since been launched.
European nations have elevated safety round key power, web and energy infrastructure after underwater explosions ruptured two pure gasoline pipelines within the Baltic Sea that have been constructed to ship Russian gasoline to Germany.
Source: information.sky.com”