A Norwegian teenager who came to the UK to carry out a contract killing for a Swedish criminal group has been convicted of plotting murder. Johannes Natland was apprehended by the police in a Huddersfield hotel room with two firearms and ammunition. The 19-year-old footballer was recruited by the Foxtrot Network, an organized crime faction linked to the Iranian regime, to engage in illicit activities.
Despite the UK government sanctioning the Scandinavian gang, the target of the murder remains unknown. After a retrial, Natland was found guilty by the jury following over 17 hours of deliberation. He admitted to possessing the weapons but denied involvement in the murder conspiracy, although evidence pointed to his awareness of the intended crime.
Prosecutors revealed that Natland was enlisted by the Foxtrot Network, a criminal group supported by Iran, known for employing young assassins as a “violence-as-a-service” strategy. Fortunately, swift action by London’s Counter Terrorism Police thwarted Natland’s plan before he could execute the murder on UK soil.
Natland was arrested in March 2025 at a hotel in Huddersfield, where he was found with a semi-automatic pistol, a revolver, and ammunition. His attempt was foiled by Norwegian authorities who had arrested the individual who recruited him, leading to a timely intervention by UK law enforcement.
During the trial, bodycam footage captured Natland’s arrest at the hotel, where he jovially pretended to shoot at officers before being detained on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder. Despite claiming to have come to the UK to visit online gaming friends, his possession of weapons and involvement in the criminal plot became evident.
The investigation by Counter Terrorism Police is ongoing, with further arrests made in connection to the case. The collaborative effort with international law enforcement agencies has successfully prevented a potentially fatal incident and removed lethal weapons from circulation, enhancing public safety.
