Norwegian Police Raid Oslo Home Following Dagens Næringsliv Data Breach
Norwegian businessman Dyar Al-Ashtari, 31, was arrested and charged with computer intrusion following a criminal complaint filed by Dagens Næringsliv, according to Børsen.no. Police conducted raids on Wednesday afternoon and evening at an address on Smestad in Oslo, seizing physical and digital items as part of the ongoing investigation.
The investigation centers on a cyberattack against Dagens Næringsliv last month. During the security breach, hackers stole an unpublished investigative article detailing Al-Ashtari’s financial holdings, which the newspaper traced back to two anonymous companies based in Dubai. According to the report, more than 650 million Norwegian kroner were transferred from those Dubai entities into Al-Ashtari’s domestic business ventures.
Newspaper Editor Welcomes High Police Priority
Dagens Næringsliv Editor-in-Chief Janne Johannesen expressed satisfaction with the swift actions taken by law enforcement following the digital breach.
DN reported the data breach as a serious attack on our investigative journalism,
Johannesen told Dagbladet. We are therefore satisfied that the police have given the investigation a high priority and await further developments in the case.
Police Prosecutor Terje Mørner confirmed to Dagbladet that authorities executed the search warrant at Al-Ashtari’s residence specifically due to the newspaper’s formal complaint. He is charged with data breach based on the report from Dagens Næringsliv,
Mørner stated.
Defense Counsel Declines Comment on Charges
Al-Ashtari’s defense attorney, Petter Enholm, declined to speak with reporters regarding the accusations and the ongoing police investigation. Al-Ashtari arrived in Norway as a child after fleeing Iraq, later building a fortune totaling hundreds of millions of kroner through various information technology companies. Public property records show he recently purchased several high-end real estate assets in Oslo, including a Frogner villa valued at 150 million kroner.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Investigation
When did the cyberattack against Dagens Næringsliv occur?
The computer intrusion took place exactly one day before the newspaper had scheduled to publish its investigative report concerning Al-Ashtari’s business finances.
What specific charges does Dyar Al-Ashtari face?
Al-Ashtari is formally charged with computer intrusion based directly on the criminal complaint filed by Dagens Næringsliv regarding the theft of their unpublished material.
Where did the police execute their search warrants?
Police carried out coordinated searches on Wednesday afternoon and evening at an address located in the Smestad neighborhood of Oslo.
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