Norwegian police arrest Malaysian on espionage charges

Norwegian authorities have arrested a 25-year-old Malaysian national on suspicion of spying in the country. The arrest, made by the Norwegian intelligence service PST, took place on Friday evening.

According to the The Nordic Page, the PST initiated the arrest after surveillance cameras outside government offices recorded the movements of the suspect's rental car.

Targets included the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Defense. It is believed that the individual was attempting to access electronic communications by either parking near or driving around these government buildings.

While the exact motive and the entity the suspect may have been working for remain unclear, PST lawyer Thomas Fredrik Blom told the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) that there is no suspicion of Malaysian involvement in the alleged espionage. NRK reports that the suspect has also denied the allegations.

According to Blom, the investigation is at an early stage and the police are actively gathering evidence, as the suspect will remain in custody for at least four weeks while the investigation continues.

The suspect is reportedly not enrolled in any Norwegian educational institution and has only recently arrived in Norway.