Norwegian teen hitman jailed for 20 years over Iran-linked UK murder plot
A 19-year-old Norwegian recruited by the Foxtrot Network was jailed for 20 years on Friday, 16 October 2026, after a jury found him guilty of conspiracy to murder. He had agreed to shoot an unidentified target for 25,000 euros.
Sentence in London
A court at Woolwich Crown Court in London sentenced Johannes Kongsnes Natland, a 19-year-old Norwegian, to 20 years in prison on Friday, 16 October 2026. Police said he must serve a minimum term of at least 13 years. A jury found him guilty in July of conspiracy to murder after a retrial. He had agreed to shoot a target whose identity has not been established, in return for 25,000 euros (21,500 pounds). He admitted possessing the firearms and ammunition but denied intending to carry out the killing.
The arrest in Huddersfield
Natland was arrested in the early hours of 19 March 2025 at a hotel in Huddersfield, northern England, two days after he reached the UK. Officers found two guns and ammunition in his room, where he had hidden them under the bed. The number of rounds varies between reports: 19 according to the BBC and Spiegel, and 12 live bullets according to The Independent. Counter-terrorism officers said the arrest came only hours before the planned killing. West Yorkshire Police, the north-east counter-terrorism unit and Norwegian authorities took part in the operation.
- Natland arrested at a Huddersfield hotel with two guns and ammunition
- Jury finds Natland guilty of conspiracy to murder
- Natland sentenced to 20 years at Woolwich Crown Court
Recruitment and the Iran link
Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism officers said Natland was recruited by the Foxtrot Network, which they describe as a Swedish organised crime group, while he was playing an online game. They said the group has links to the Iranian government. Helen Flanagan, who heads the unit, said police had not identified the intended target and had found no evidence of a direct link to Iran in this case. Spiegel reports that a Foxtrot member using the alias 'Agent 47' offered him the 25,000 euros, and that a search of his phone showed maps, photos and videos of the weapons' hiding place. The UK has sanctioned the Foxtrot Network and its leader, Rawa Majid, and the sanctions include an asset freeze.
Other charges in Norway
In Norway, a 17-year-old known as 'Generalen' was convicted last year of attempting to contribute to murder and sentenced to 14 years in custody. He is the alleged recruiter of Natland. Reports differ on the other defendants: AP says a 16-year-old is awaiting trial in Norway, while 20 Minuten says three more Norwegian teenagers have been on trial since October. The identity of the intended victim remains unknown.
Sentencing remarks
Judge Bobbie Cheema-Grubb told the court at the sentencing hearing that Natland had agreed to the killing despite repeated chances to withdraw.
You agreed to be the enforcer and pursued it, despite numerous opportunities to extricate yourself.
Reports of the hearing say the judge described Natland as a good student from a stable home, whose drug misuse derailed him to the horror of his parents. Investigators attribute dozens of violent crimes in Sweden in recent years to the Foxtrot gang. The target of the planned killing has still not been identified.