Norwegian teenager Johannes Natland to be sentenced over Iran-backed UK murder plot

Mixed · 2Johannes Kongsnes Natland, 19, of Stavanger, Norway, is due to be sentenced on Friday at Woolwich Crown Court by Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb after being convicted of conspiracy to murder. 1 2 Mixed · 2Natland agreed in March last year to shoot an unknown target for 25,000 euros (£21,500), in a plot linked to an Iran-backed international crime gang. 1 2 Mixed · 2The court heard Natland was recruited by another teenager known as "Generalen", who worked for the proscribed Swedish Foxtrot gang. The gang is described as backed by the Iranian regime and known for using children as young as 13 in drug smuggling and violent crime. 1 2

Mixed · 2Natland was controlled by an English-speaking boss called "Agent 47", an apparent reference to the Hitman games and films. Agent 47's true identity and whereabouts remain unknown. 1 2 Mixed · 2Natland flew from Stavanger to Manchester Airport on a temporary passport on March 17 last year. Border Force stopped Natland and bailed Natland to catch the next direct flight home, but Natland went to Huddersfield instead, where £2,000 in cash, two guns and bullets were collected and a stolen Nissan with false plates was designated for the killing. 1 2 Mixed · 2From a room at the Briar Court Hotel, Natland told a girlfriend of having the "bangs in the bag" and took selfies with the guns and cash. Armed police arrested Natland at the hotel at 5.15am the next day; Natland emerged in boxer shorts and pretended to shoot an officer with empty hands. Police seized a semi-automatic pistol, a revolver, 12 live rounds, gloves and £2,000. 1 2

Mixed · 2Natland admitted possessing the firearms and ammunition but said Natland would have shot Natland's own foot to escape the "pickle" faced. Jurors heard Natland lied repeatedly after arrest and tried to persuade the girlfriend not to give evidence in phone calls from prison. 1 2 Mixed · 2Giving evidence, Natland said the plan was "bravado" to look "cool" to peers, that Natland was "terrified" inside and was not "an international assassin". The Evening Standard also reports that a footballer friend said Natland spoke of getting "a lot of money" and that "somebody is going to die", and that Natland told the girlfriend of a "crazy mission". Natland said addiction to drugs, rehab and a care home preceded this. 1 2 Mixed · 2Generalen, 17, was convicted in Norway in May last year of attempting to "contribute to murder". Three more people have been charged by Norwegian police, with prosecutors yet to decide whether to indict them. The Evening Standard adds that a 27-year-old man arrested in September 2025 on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder was released under investigation, and two men aged 30 and 27 arrested in Bradford over a stolen car were bailed. 1 2