Norwegian teen accused of flying to UK on 'crazy' hitman job for gang used by Iran

A teenage hitman flew to the UK from Norway to murder an unknown target on behalf of an organised crime group used by the Iranian regime, a court has heard.

Johannes Natland, 19, was allegedly directed to a stash of money, guns and ammunition after he was recruited by the Foxtrot network.

Prosecutors say the organisation is a Swedish organised crime group "used by the Iranian regime", which offered up to 25,000 euros to carry out the hit.

Natland, from Stavanger, in south-west Norway, was arrested on 19 March last year in a hotel room in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, with a semi-automatic pistol, a revolver and 12 rounds of live ammunition.

Jurors were told the teenager has pleaded guilty to possession of the two guns and the bullets, but denies conspiracy to murder between 1 and 20 March last year. Jurors were shown footage of him handling the weapons on the hotel bed.

"On 17 March last year the defendant Johannes Natland travelled from his home country of Norway to this country to murder," said prosecutor Alistair Richardson.

"He had been recruited by an organisation called the Foxtrot network to an agreement that in return for money he would travel here and undertake a hit.

"He was directed by others to a hotel to a stash of money and then a stash of guns and ammunition.

"He was prevented from committing murder when he was arrested inside a hotel room in Huddersfield with two firearms and live ammunition."

The court heard the Foxtrot network, which was formed in 2021, has been involved in drug smuggling and violent crimes which are advertised in group chats on social media apps such as Snapchat, Telegram and Signal.

Online groups can have thousands of members including "instigators", "recruiters" and "facilitators" who direct often very young "enforcers", who rarely have any advanced knowledge of who the target is.

A jury was told the alleged murder plot was directed by someone with the username "Agent 47" who asked another Norwegian teenager, "Generalen", who was acting as a recruiter: "Do you have an assassin abroad?"

Agent 47 had said the job was in "Great Britain. As easy as can be," and told him there was 25,000 Euros "in the pot".

The court heard, in a Snapchat conversation on 15 March last year, Natland asked Generalen: "Who is to be shot?"

Mr Richardson said from those first messages it was clear Natland knew the agreement he was entering into involved "someone being murdered and murdered with a gun".

He then told his girlfriend, "I'm going on a crazy mission", the court heard.

The jury was told Natland flew into Manchester Airport on 17 March last year, when he was aged just 18 on a temporary passport.

He was questioned by Border Force officers and refused entry to the UK, but released on bail before taking a taxi to a hotel in Manchester.

The following day Agent 47 directed Natland to an address in Huddersfield to collect money before the teenager booked a room for three days at the Briar Court Hotel.

Natland was then directed to another address and sent a video and map showing the route to the base of a tree, where he allegedly picked up the guns and ammunition.

The court heard he bought three pairs of workman-style black and orange gloves before being sent to a stolen car, which was allegedly for use in the planned murder the following day.

"He neither knew nor cared who he was to kill," said the prosecutor.

"This was to him all about the money which he would receive for completing the job."

The court heard Natland pretended to shoot firearms officers with his hand when they knocked on the door. Along with the guns and ammunition, they found £2,000 in cash.

The trial, which is due to last up to three weeks, continues.

(c) Sky News 2026: Norwegian teen accused of flying to UK on 'crazy' hitman job for gang used by Iran