Teenage ‘Hitman’ Guilty of UK Murder Plot for Foxtrot Gang

A 19-year-old Norwegian national who travelled to the United Kingdom to carry out a contract killing for a Swedish organised crime syndicate has been convicted of conspiracy to murder following a trial at the Old Bailey.

Following a retrial, a jury deliberated for just over 17 hours before unanimously convicting Johannes Natland. The Stavanger teenager showed no emotion as the verdict was returned.

Natland had already admitted possessing two working firearms and 19 rounds of live ammunition but denied conspiring to murder.

Prosecutor Alistair Richardson told the court Natland had been recruited by the Foxtrot Network, a Swedish organised crime group sanctioned by both the UK and US governments because of its links to the Iranian regime.

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Jurors heard Foxtrot is associated with what Europol describes as “violence-as-a-service”, recruiting teenagers to carry out contract killings across Europe.

Natland, the son of two journalists and once a promising footballer, developed serious drug problems as a teenager and was later admitted to a psychiatric unit suffering drug-induced psychosis. While staying at a home for troubled children, he came into contact with an individual using the online name “UnknownHustler”.

On 15 March 2025, UnknownHustler forwarded Natland a Foxtrot contract offering 270,000 Norwegian kroner (about £21,000) to carry out a killing in England. He was then added to an encrypted Signal group called “Assassin EU”, alongside a 17-year-old recruiter known as “Generalen” and a handler using the username “Agent 47”. Natland’s first message asked: “Who is to be killed?”

The following day, Agent 47 booked Natland onto a one-way flight from Stavanger to Manchester Airport using an emergency passport. Border Force officers became suspicious because he had little money, no hotel booking and no return ticket. Although refused formal entry, he was temporarily admitted until the next available flight to Norway.

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Following instructions sent via Signal, Natland travelled to Huddersfield, collected cash hidden beneath rubbish, checked into the Briar Court Hotel and later recovered a semi-automatic pistol, a revolver and ammunition from nearby woodland.

Jurors saw videos of Natland handling the firearms in his hotel room and a photograph showing him posing with the cash. When he asked about payment, Agent 47 replied: “You will get it when the job is done. In cash.”

The plot was disrupted after Norwegian police arrested Generalen at Oslo Airport and discovered the encrypted messages outlining the planned assassination. British authorities were alerted, triggering a Counter Terrorism Policing operation.

Armed officers arrested Natland at the Briar Court Hotel shortly after 5.15am on 19 March 2025. Prosecutors said he mimed firing at an officer as he emerged from his room before being restrained. The two firearms were recovered from beneath his bed.

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Giving evidence, Natland claimed he never intended to kill anyone and instead planned to shoot himself in the foot.

Jurors also heard Generalen was later convicted in Norway over this conspiracy and other violent offences linked to the Foxtrot Network. Swedish police have identified “Agent 47” as Ali Shehab Ahmed, an alleged associate of Foxtrot leader Rawa Majid. Ahmed was arrested in Iraq in December and is awaiting extradition. 

Following the verdict, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb ordered the preparation of a pre-sentence report and remanded Natland into custody. He is due to be sentenced at the Old Bailey in October.

Frank Ferguson, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said Natland had travelled to Britain intending to kill for money on behalf of an organised crime group.

He said: “Johannes Natland was just 18 when he travelled to the UK, having agreed to carry out a murder on behalf of others for financial gain.

“This case shows how organised crime networks operate across borders and exploit young people to carry out serious violence.

“Thanks to swift and coordinated police work, this plot was stopped before anyone was harmed.

“The evidence in this case—including telephone evidence, text messages, CCTV footage and witness testimony—clearly left no doubt that Natland intended to carry out this crime."