OSLO, Norway — Norwegian law enforcement officials have taken a Chinese national into custody Thursday on charges related to alleged espionage activities involving satellite data collection equipment, according to the nation’s domestic intelligence agency.
The arrest was accompanied by searches at two locations, including a site on a northern Norwegian island that houses the Andøya Spaceport, a key facility in Europe’s expanding space operations. A second search was conducted in Innlandet, located in the country’s southern region.
The investigation began after authorities suspected that a company registered in Norway was functioning as a cover operation for Chinese government interests, according to the Police Security Service (PST).
The detained individual, described only as a female Chinese citizen, is accused of attempting to “establish a receiver for satellite downloads from satellites in polar orbits suitable for collecting data that could harm fundamental Norwegian interests if it becomes known to a foreign state,” stated PST police attorney Thomas Blom.
Officials confirmed they have confiscated the satellite receiving equipment and successfully prevented the suspected installation and operation plans from moving forward.
The case “involves complicity in an attempt at serious espionage against state secrets,” according to the official police statement.
Authorities revealed that additional individuals have been charged in connection with this investigation, though they declined to provide specifics about these other suspects’ identities, nationalities, or whether arrests were made.
Ketil Olsen, CEO of Andøya Spaceport, issued a statement Thursday clarifying that his company has no relationship “to the individual involved,” and emphasized they “had not observed any activity related to our operations in this matter.”
