Norwegian teen sentenced to 20 years in prison for plotting murder in UK for Iran-linked gang

A Norwegian teenager, Johannes Natland, 19, has been sentenced to 20 years in detention after being caught in the act of attempting to carry out a hit for an organized crime group in the UK. Natland was apprehended in a hotel room in Huddersfield, England, in March 2025, in possession of two functioning firearms and 19 rounds of live ammunition, according to the Old Bailey's previous testimony.

The jury was informed during his retrial that Natland had been recruited by the Foxtrot Network, an organized crime group originating from Sweden and reportedly supported by the Iranian regime. Natland, who pleaded guilty to firearm and ammunition possession, was unanimously convicted of conspiracy to murder at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday.

The Foxtrot Network has been subject to sanctions by both the UK and the US due to its close ties to the Iranian government. However, the identity of Natland's intended target remains undetermined. Commander Helen Flanagan, who heads Counter Terrorism Policing London, revealed that the authorities have been unable to ascertain the exact identity of the victim.

Flanagan stated, "We haven't been able to establish exactly who the intended victim was." For further updates, listeners can tune into highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, or catch up with the latest episode of Look North.