Full Breakdown
Norwegian Teen Convicted of UK Murder Plot Tied to Iran-Backed Swedish Crime Group
7/30/2026, 1:28:47 AM
Core Event: Conviction and Arrest
A 19-year-old Norwegian, Johannes Kongsnes Natland, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder after a retrial at London’s Old Bailey. Police arrested Natland in a Huddersfield hotel room on the early morning of March 19, 2025 (occurred). Officers seized a semi-automatic pistol, a revolver, twelve live rounds, gloves and £2,000 in cash. Natland admitted possession of the firearms but maintained he never intended to carry out the hit. The intended target remains unidentified. He faces sentencing at the Old Bailey in October.
Background & Context
The plot was orchestrated by the Foxtrot Network, a Swedish organised-crime group sanctioned by the United Kingdom and the United States for its links to the Iranian regime. Europol has described the group’s model as “violence-as-a-service,” noting its practice of hiring teenage assassins through encrypted messaging apps such as Signal, Telegram and Snapchat. The network is also involved in drug smuggling and other violent crimes across Europe.
Data & Statistics
- Payment offered: €25,000 (approximately £21,500).
- Weapons seized: one semi-automatic pistol, one revolver, 12 live rounds.
- Cash recovered: £2,000.
- Age at recruitment: 18 years old (Natland travelled to the UK at that age).
- Communication aliases: “Agent 47” (English-speaking handler) and “Generalen” (Norwegian recruiter).
Official Statements & Responses
- Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crime and Counter-Terrorism Division, said the case illustrates how trans-national crime networks exploit young people for violent contracts.
- Alistair Richardson, prosecutor at the Old Bailey, told jurors that Natland was a “troubled but dangerous young man” who agreed to kill for money.
- Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter-Terrorism Policing London, highlighted the role of international cooperation, noting close collaboration with Norwegian law-enforcement partners that helped prevent the planned assassination.
On-the-Ground Reports
Body-camera footage released by police shows Natland emerging topless from his hotel room and mimicking a shooting gesture at a firearms officer before being restrained. Text messages to his girlfriend revealed he described the weapons as “bang” and boasted that “someone is going to die.” He also claimed he intended to “shoot himself in the foot” to escape the assignment, describing the situation as a “major pickle.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Payment amount: Some sources cite €25,000, while others reference $28,000 or $28,500.
- Target identity: No source has identified the intended victim.
- Handler identity: The true identity and whereabouts of “Agent 47” remain unknown.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This was a calculated plan to kill for money,” — Frank Ferguson
- “Johannes Natland was just 18 when he travelled to the UK, having agreed to carry out a murder on behalf of others for financial gain,” — Frank Ferguson
- “This was a calculated plan to kill for money. This case shows how organised crime networks operate across borders and exploit young people to carry out serious violence.” — Frank Ferguson
What’s Next
Natland will be sentenced at the Old Bailey in October. The court has ordered a report on his background and mental health to inform sentencing. Law-enforcement agencies continue investigations into the Foxtrot Network’s broader operations and the unidentified “Agent 47.”
