DistantNews
Support us
Teenage Norwegian convicted of UK murder plot
🇬🇧 United Kingdom /Crime & Justice

Teenage Norwegian convicted of UK murder plot

From BBC News · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • A 19-year-old Norwegian national was found guilty of conspiracy to murder in the UK for a plot linked to a Swedish organized crime group backed by Iran.
  • The teenager, Johannes Natland, was arrested in March 2025 with two firearms and ammunition, claiming he intended to shoot himself rather than carry out the hit.
  • The case highlights the Foxtrot Network's alleged use of teenage killers, a phenomenon Europol terms 'violence-as-a-service,' and its connections to the Iranian regime.

A teenage Norwegian traveler, Johannes Natland, has been convicted of conspiracy to murder in the UK, a plot authorities say was orchestrated by a Swedish organized crime group with ties to the Iranian regime. Natland, 19, was apprehended in a Huddersfield hotel in March 2025, found with two functional handguns and 19 rounds of ammunition. He had pleaded guilty to possessing the firearms and ammunition but maintained his innocence regarding the murder conspiracy charge.

recruited

— Alistair RichardsonProsecutor Alistair Richardson said the teen was 'recruited' by the Foxtrot Network during the trial opening.

An Old Bailey jury delivered a unanimous guilty verdict after deliberating for just over 17 hours. The prosecution had argued that Natland was recruited by the Foxtrot Network, described as a Swedish organized crime entity supported by the Iranian government. This group is known for employing teenage assassins, a tactic Europol has labeled 'violence-as-a-service.' Natland's defense claimed he intended to shoot himself in the foot rather than execute the planned attack, telling the court he was in "a major pickle."

a major pickle

— Johannes NatlandNatland told jurors he had found himself in 'a major pickle' during his defense.

The court heard that the Foxtrot Network faces sanctions from both the UK and the US due to its close relationship with the Iranian government. The teenager who recruited Natland, identified only by his online username "Generalen" and aged 17, cannot be named for legal reasons. He was previously convicted in Norway for his role in the conspiracy, as well as for orchestrating several attempted murders and arsons for the Foxtrot Network. He was also implicated in two murders in Sweden, though he claimed one victim was not the intended target.

violence-as-a-service

— EuropolEuropol has called the phenomenon of hiring teenage killers 'violence-as-a-service.'

Natland, who grew up in Stavanger, Norway, and is the son of two journalists, reportedly began using drugs at age 13 and had dropped out of school. His defense suggested he was experiencing paranoia due to drug use at the time of his arrest. Meanwhile, Swedish police are pursuing Ali Shehab Ahmed, 22, believed to be known as "Agent 47" and a key figure within the Foxtrot Network, who is awaiting extradition from Iraq.

very close

— Swedish police chiefsSwedish police chiefs described Ali Shehab Ahmed as 'very close' to the group's leader Rawa Majid.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by BBC News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog