Global Crime Network Uncovered
Norwegian Footballer Convicted in Iran-Backed Foxtrot Gang Murder Plot
Key Points
Two firearms were recovered at the Huddersfield hotel: a semi-automatic pistol and a revolver, along with 12 live bullets, when Natland was arrested two days after arriving in the UK.
The recruiter behind the operation, known as 'Generalen' in Norway, is a 17-year-old who was convicted there of attempting to contribute to murder as part of the same network.
The Old Bailey retrial concluded with Natland being found guilty of conspiracy to murder after the jury spent 17 hours and six minutes deliberating.
Prosecutors describe the Foxtrot gang as Swedish-based and backed by the Iranian regime, a group reportedly sanctioned by Britain and the United States, with a history of involving underage individuals in crime.
A friend who spoke with Natland described a boastful remark: 'I’m going to get a lot of money and somebody is going to die,' illustrating the mindset behind the plot.
A 19-year-old Norwegian footballer has been convicted of conspiracy to murder after travelling to England to carry out a paid killing for an international crime gang backed by Iran. Johannes Kongsnes Natland was found guilty at the Old Bailey after jurors deliberated for 17 hours and six minutes, according to Chronicle Live.
Natland agreed to shoot an unknown target for €25,000 — around £21,500 — on behalf of the Foxtrot Network, a Swedish-based gang that prosecutors say is backed by the Iranian regime and has been sanctioned by both Britain and the United States, LBC reported.
Firearms Found in Huddersfield Hotel Room
Natland arrived in the UK in March of last year. Two days later, police arrested him at a hotel in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. Officers found a semi-automatic pistol, a revolver, and 12 live bullets in his room, according to Lowestoft Journal.
Natland had earlier admitted to possessing the weapons. But he denied planning to use them. At trial, prosecutors argued otherwise. A friend testified that Natland had boasted: 'I'm going to get a lot of money and somebody is going to die,' LBC reported.
Teen Recruited Online by Gang's 'Agent 47' Handler
Prosecutors say Natland was recruited into the Foxtrot Network by a figure known as 'Agent 47.' The gang allegedly used €25,000 to fund the operation. The network has a history of pulling young and underage people into violent crime, according to Chronicle Live.
The recruiter who connected Natland to the plot, known in Norway as 'Generalen,' is just 17 years old. That teenager was separately convicted in Norway of attempting to help carry out a murder as part of the same network, Head Topics reported.
Retrial Ends Guilty Verdict After Hung Jury
This was not Natland's first trial. A previous jury could not reach a verdict on the murder conspiracy charge, resulting in a hung jury. Prosecutors brought the case back to court, and this retrial ended in a conviction, according to Chronicle Live.
During his arrest, Natland pretended to shoot an armed police officer — a detail that emerged in court testimony, Yahoo News reported. Prosecutors also said he lied repeatedly and tried to influence witnesses. The jury rejected his defence.
Iran-Backed Foxtrot Gang Draws Wider Scrutiny
The Foxtrot Network operates out of Sweden and is allegedly backed by the Iranian regime. Both the UK and the US have placed sanctions on the group. Authorities say it runs nodes in Norway and Sweden and continues to recruit young people online, LBC reported.
Investigators say further charges and investigations into the network are ongoing. The case has raised fresh alarms about state-backed organised crime groups using social media to turn teenagers into hired killers, according to Lowestoft Journal.
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