19-year-old Iranian agent found guilty of plotting contract killing

A British court has found 19-year-old Norwegian Johannes Kongsnes Natland guilty of conspiracy to murder on behalf of an Iranian criminal network. He was arrested in a hotel in Huddersfield with weapons just hours before the planned assassination.

A British court on Wednesday, July 29, found 19-year-old Norwegian citizen Johannes Kongsnes Natland guilty of criminal conspiracy to commit murder. The court established that Natland agreed to become a hitman and carry out a contract for an international criminal organization linked to Iran. According to the prosecution, in March 2025, Natland flew from Stavanger to Manchester, agreeing to carry out a task for the Swedish criminal network "FoxTrot." For a reward of 25,000 euros, he was to shoot a person whose identity was not disclosed to him. Two days after arriving in the UK, he was detained by armed police at a hotel in Huddersfield. Two firearms and 12 rounds of ammunition were seized from him. Natland admitted to illegal possession of weapons but denied the charge of conspiracy to murder. Earlier, on June 18, the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict, and a new trial was ordered. The article also describes a broader context: Israel's Mossad warned that Iran recruits criminals for terror, particularly through the "FoxTrot" group, which is behind at least 30 murders. The group is led by Rawa Majid, who is hiding in Iran. The article also mentions other incidents: the shooting at the Israeli embassy in Stockholm and an attempted arson at a synagogue in Rouen.