Drone incident investigated for espionage in Helsinki’s Pasila area

The National Bureau of Investigation (KRP) is currently examining a suspected espionage case after an individual reportedly flew a drone in restricted airspace over Helsinki’s Pasila area. Operating a drone in this area without the necessary special permit is prohibited. The drone was operated near a transmission tower but lost connection, leading to an automatic return to its home point. However, during its return flight, it collided with the transmission tower and ultimately remained lodged in the structure. A representative from the telecommunications company Digita retrieved the drone afterward.

According to KRP, data logs indicate that the drone was primarily flown around the shopping center Tripla before heading towards Yle’s broadcasting facilities, passing by the Pasila police station. The suspect self-reported the collision to Digita.

Petri Partanen, a criminal inspector, mentioned that the case is categorized under espionage due to its proximity to critical infrastructure; however, it is currently believed to be an accident. The investigation is ongoing, as the suspect has not yet been interviewed, but police plan to do so in October.

Espionage charges are rare and serious in Finland, with only a few such investigations initiated in recent years. If convicted, a person could face imprisonment of at least one to ten years for obtaining and disclosing information harmful to Finland’s security or foreign relations.

In addition, the police are also investigating several incidents involving conscripts related to the revealing of security secrets, which falls under treason. One such incident reportedly occurred last autumn in Kankaanpää, where a conscript allegedly captured and shared unauthorized material on social media. The preliminary investigation was completed in September and is now under review by the Defense Forces for possible prosecution.