Teenage hitman from Norway locked up for plotting UK murder for Iran-backed gang

Johannes Natland (Metropolitan Police/PA) PA Media Emily Pennink 3 minutes ago A teenage hitman from Norway has been locked up for 20 years for plotting a murder on British soil for an Iran-backed international crime gang.

Talented footballer Johannes Kongsnes Natland, 19, agreed to shoot an unknown target for 25,000 euros (£21,500) in March last year.

Two days after he arrived in the UK on a flight from his home in Stavanger, armed police arrested him at a hotel in Huddersfield , West Yorkshire , and seized two guns and 12 live bullets.

Natland admitted possessing the firearms and ammunition but claimed he would have shot himself in the foot to get out of the “pickle” he was in.

Johannes Natland, 19, pretending to shoot an armed officer during his arrest on March 19 2025 (Counter Terrorism Policing/PA) PA Media He was found guilty of conspiracy to murder and sentenced to 20 years detention on Friday.

In a televised sentencing at Woolwich Crown Court , Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said: “You were recruited in Norway to travel to England and kill an unidentified target.

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“You agreed to be the enforcer and pursued it, despite numerous opportunities to extricate yourself.

“Although the fact that no one was shot dead or physically harmed is important, I am sure had the intervention of the police not prevented the plan from proceeding, you would have done what you had agreed to. ”

She said messages he sent showed “not only participation but at points excitement” about what he was planning to do.

The court heard that Natland was recruited by another teenager referred to as “Generalen” who was working for the proscribed Swedish Foxtrot gang.

The gang is backed by the Iranian regime and is known for deploying children as young as 13 in drug smuggling and violent crimes.

Natland was controlled by an English-speaking boss called Agent 47, in an apparent reference to the Hitman gaming and film franchise.

Johannes Natland, 19, with £2,000 in cash spread over a bed. (Counter Terrorism Policing/PA) PA Media Under Agent 47’s close direction, Natland took a flight from Stavanger to Manchester Airport on a temporary passport on March 17 last year.