Norwegian Teen Planned £25,000 UK Murder for Iran-Linked Foxtrot Network, London Court Hears
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Jun 3
Norwegian Teen Planned £25,000 UK Murder for Iran-Linked Foxtrot Network, London Court Hears
3 articles · Updated · Reuters · Jun 3
Summary
Johannes Natland, 19, traveled from Norway to Britain to carry out a paid killing, prosecutors told the Old Bailey, saying he had agreed to undertake a "hit" for the Foxtrot Network.
Foxtrot is a Swedish organized crime group used by the Iranian regime, the prosecution said, and messages showed a handler using the name "Agent 47" discussing 25,000 euros for the murder.
Huddersfield police arrested Natland in a hotel room in March 2025 with a semi-automatic pistol, a revolver and live ammunition; prosecutors said the intended victim remains unknown.
Natland denies conspiracy to murder but has already pleaded guilty to possessing the firearms and ammunition. The trial is continuing in London.
A teen was recruited online for a contract killing. How vulnerable are Western youth to this new threat?
How is Iran turning European street gangs into tools for its international shadow war?
How Iran’s Foxtrot Network Turned European Teens into Hitmen: The Natland Case, State-Backed Crime, and the New Face of Transnational Threats
Overview
This report explores how teenagers like Johannes Kongsnes Natland are being recruited by sophisticated international crime networks, highlighting their vulnerability and the serious challenges this poses for law enforcement and European security. Natland’s alleged involvement in a wider transnational criminal enterprise underscores the complex human and societal costs when minors are drawn into organized crime. The Foxtrot Network, one of Sweden’s most notorious criminal organizations, exemplifies this threat as it drives escalating violence through serious crimes such as shootings, contract killings, and large-scale drug and arms trafficking, further complicating efforts to maintain security across Europe.