Johannes Natland guilty in UK murder plot tied to Foxtrot Network
A London jury found the Norwegian teen conspired to kill in England for Foxtrot, a Swedish gang sanctioned over Iran-linked violence.
By Frankie Delgado · News Reporter
4 min read
The Johannes Natland murder plot case has ended with a guilty verdict against a 19-year-old Norwegian accused of traveling to England to kill for a Swedish organized crime group, London’s Metropolitan Police said.
Natland was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder after a two-week trial and an investigation led by British counterterrorism officers, according to the Met. Police said he had already admitted two offenses linked to possession of firearms and ammunition.
Officers arrested Natland at a hotel in Huddersfield in northern England in the early hours of March 19, 2025, when he was 18. Police said they found a semi-automatic pistol, a revolver and live ammunition inside a plastic bag under his bed.
The Crown Prosecution Service said Natland had arrived at Manchester Airport from Stavanger, Norway, on March 17, 2025, using an emergency passport. Prosecutors said the planned killing was set for two days later.
Police also released bodycam footage from the arrest. According to the footage described by investigators and reported by the BBC, Natland came out of his hotel room topless and made a shooting gesture toward an armed officer before he was restrained against a wall.
Who is Johannes Natland?
Johannes Kongsnes Natland is a Norwegian man who prosecutors said agreed at age 18 to carry out a killing in the United Kingdom for money. He is due to be sentenced at the Old Bailey in October, according to prosecutors.
The intended victim has not been identified. The Met said investigators found “a significant amount of evidence” showing Natland knew he had been asked to kill someone, and police said the wider investigation continues.
Frank Ferguson, who heads the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, called the case “a calculated plan to kill for money.” Ferguson said Natland traveled to the U.K. after agreeing to commit murder for financial gain, and said the case showed how organized crime groups work across borders and use young people for serious violence.
What is the Foxtrot Network?
The Met said Natland was acting on instructions from the Foxtrot Network, a Swedish organized crime group. The CPS said the group is involved in drug smuggling and violent crime, with some jobs advertised through group chats on platforms including Snapchat, Telegram and Signal.
British and American authorities have sanctioned the Foxtrot Network and its leader, Rawa Majid, over alleged violence against Israeli and Jewish targets in Europe on behalf of Iran’s regime. Europol has referred to this type of outsourced criminal violence as “violence-as-a-service.”
The CPS said a 17-year-old in Norway has been sentenced to 14 years for helping recruit Natland into the plot. Prosecutors said another 16-year-old in Norway is awaiting trial over his alleged role.
What did prosecutors say was in the messages?
Police analysis of Natland’s communications showed he received social media messages in Norway asking whether he would carry out a shooting in the U.K., the Met said. A possible payment of $28,000 was discussed.
Prosecutors said a user calling themselves “Agent 47” described the location as “Great Britain. As easy as can be,” then told Natland which flight to take and where to collect money in Huddersfield. Police said Natland was later sent the name of a hotel and detailed directions, including maps, images and videos, to find the bag containing the guns.
CCTV from the airport and hotel showed Natland taking a taxi to a wooded area where he collected the weapons, according to police. Investigators said he then messaged his girlfriend, “in the bag is bang,” and sent her a photo of himself holding a gun with the caption, “soon it will happen.”
The CPS said Natland also sent pictures of the firearms to friends in Norway. When one asked whether he had tested the weapons, prosecutors said Natland replied: “Hell no. They will be tested on the guy.”
In court, Natland claimed he planned to shoot himself in the foot to avoid punishment for refusing the mission, according to the CPS. Prosecutors said the final message he received before his arrest read: “We have much to do tomorrow.”
This story draws on original reporting from CBS News.