Norwegian teenager guilty of plotting murder for Iran-backed gang

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 06:44 · Archive

A 19-year-old Norwegian footballer has been found guilty of conspiracy to murder after agreeing to shoot a target in the UK for an Iran-backed crime gang.

Johannes Kongsnes Natland, 19, a footballer from Stavanger in Norway, was found guilty of conspiracy to murder by an Old Bailey jury following a retrial. He had agreed to shoot an unknown target in the UK for 25,000 euros (£21,500) in March last year.

Two days after arriving in the UK, armed police arrested Natland at a hotel in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. Officers seized two guns and 12 live bullets from him. Natland admitted possessing the firearms and ammunition but claimed he would have shot himself in the foot to escape what he called a 'pickle' he was in.

The court heard that Natland was recruited by another teenager known as 'Generalen', who was working for the proscribed Swedish Foxtrot gang, which is backed by the Iranian regime and known for deploying children as young as 13 in drug smuggling and violent crimes. The Mirror reports that Natland was controlled by an English-speaking boss called 'Agent 47', apparently a reference to the Hitman gaming and film franchise.

Jurors heard Natland had lied repeatedly after his arrest and attempted to persuade his girlfriend not to give evidence in phone calls from prison. He will be sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday by Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb.

How it is being reported

• Teenage hitman to be sentenced over murder plot for Iran-backed gang on UK soilJohannes Kongsnes Natland, 19, of Stavanger agreed to shoot an unknown target in the UK for 25,000 euros (£21,500) in March last year - he will find out his fate later todayThe Mirror · 16 Oct, 06:28
• Teenage hitman facing jail over murder plot for Iran-backed gangTalented footballer Johannes Kongsnes Natland, 19, agreed to shoot an unknown target for 25,000 euros in March last year.Evening Standard · 16 Oct, 02:45

In this story: Johannes Kongsnes Natland · Foxtrot gang · Stavanger · Huddersfield · Iran · Sweden · Old Bailey

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem