Two NTNU researchers charged by PST

University of TrondheimUniversity of Trondheim(NTNU).Photo.NTNU

Two researchers at NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology) have been charged by PST (Norwegian Police Security Service). It is suspected that the scientists may have provided Iran with information that contributes to the production of weapons of mass destruction.

The two accused have been suspended from their positions, writes Universitetsavisa, which first mentioned the case.

It was the department management who first sounded the alarm when they discovered a data breach in April last year.

“In the spring of 2019, PST received information from NTNU that there may have been irregular research that could be in conflict with export control legislation. Based on the information we received from NTNU, PST initiated an investigation of the case last year,” says communications director Trond Hugubakken at PST to NRK.

Guest researchers from Iran
“The research is linked to a small environment, including by visiting guest researchers from Iran. A key question for us is to find out if that research can be of importance in the manufacture of weapons of mass destruction,” says Hugubakken.

The two researchers are charged with contributing to the data breach by providing some unauthorized access to a computer system. At the time of the breach, the two NTNU researchers had invited a group of visiting scientists from Iran. These guest researchers stayed at NTNU during the period when the data breaches occurred.

© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today

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