Norwegian police have detained two foreign nationals for illegally flying a drone near the Andøya Space Center in northern Norway.
Authorities identified the suspects as a Bulgarian man and a Swiss woman, stating they violated restrictions on drone flights and photography near the spaceport. While police have found no evidence suggesting they acted on behalf of a foreign state, both individuals are set to be interrogated.
Norway’s Police Security Service (PST) confirmed to NRK that they are aware of the incident and are prepared to assist local law enforcement if needed.
The arrests took place just days before a planned rocket launch at Andøya, which is set to be the first of its kind in Europe. It remains unclear whether the drone activity was related to the launch or if it could affect the event, according to NRK.
Authorities in the Nordland region, where the spaceport is located, have recorded 650 incidents in recent years involving potential threats to public safety, including heightened activity near critical infrastructure.
