Norwegian Teen Hitman Jailed

What happened

The outlets' own sentences, most widely reported first. Hover or tap one to see who reported it.

Analysis

How it changed

1. 16 Oct

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

   4 outlets · Evening Standard
2. 17 Oct

   “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.”

   4 outlets · New York Post

Coverage 9 articles

• 17 Oct Norwegian teen hitman sentenced to 20 years in prison for plotting murder in UK for Iran-linked gangJohannes Kongsnes Natland, a 19-year-old Norwegian teenager, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for plotting to murder someone in Britain on behalf of a crime gang with ties to Iran. Arrested at a hotel in Huddersfield with two guns and ammunition after arriving from Norway, Natland admitted to receiving $28,000 to carry out the contract killing but claimed he did not intend to go through with it. The sentencing…New York Post
• 16 Oct Teenage hitman from Norway locked up for plotting UK murder for Iran-backed gangA 19-year-old Norwegian man, Johannes Kongsnes Natland, who once played football professionally, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after admitting to conspiring to commit murder for the Foxtrot Network, an Iran-backed criminal gang. In March last year, Natland traveled to the UK with firearms and ammunition intended for a murder-for-hire plot but was apprehended by police before carrying out the crime. The judge…Evening Standard
• 16 Oct Norwegian teenager hired as hitman by Iranian crime gang jailed for 20 yearsJohannes Kongsnes Natland, a 19-year-old Norwegian footballer, was sentenced to 20 years in jail for conspiring to commit murder on behalf of an Iranian-backed international crime gang. In March last year, Natland traveled from Norway to the UK with guns and cash intended for a hit but was arrested before he could carry out the murder. The court heard that he had been recruited by another teenager working for the…The Guardian
• 16 Oct Teenage hitman from Norway locked up for plotting UK murder for Iran-backed gangJohannes Kongsnes Natland, 19, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit murder on behalf of an Iran-backed gang called the Foxtrot Network. The Norwegian teenager agreed to assassinate a target in the UK for €25,000 and traveled there with firearms and ammunition but was arrested by police before carrying out the plan. Judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb highlighted Natland's thrill-seeking behavior…Evening Standard
• 16 Oct Norwegian teen 'hitman' detained for UK murder plotJohannes Natland, a 19-year-old from Norway, was sentenced to 20 years in detention after being arrested in March 2025 in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, with two guns and ammunition. He had been recruited by the Foxtrot Network, an organized crime group linked to Iran, to carry out a murder in the UK. The court heard that Natland was guided via messages on Signal to retrieve weapons and money left for him before he…BBC
• 16 Oct Teenage Norwegian hitman jailed for 20 years after plotting to assassinate target in the UK on behalf of Iran-backed gangJohannes Natland, 18 at the time of the incident, received a £21,000 payment from an Iran-backed gang called Foxtrot Network to assassinate someone in the UK. He flew to Manchester but was initially denied entry before re-entering days later and checking into a hotel in Huddersfield where he was arrested with two guns and ammunition. Natland was sentenced to 20 years for conspiracy to murder, despite claiming fear…Daily Mail
• 16 Oct Teenage hitman from Norway locked up for plotting UK murder for Iran-backed gangJohannes Kongsnes Natland, a 19-year-old former Norwegian footballer, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for conspiring to commit murder in the UK on behalf of an Iran-backed criminal gang. In March last year, he agreed to shoot an unnamed target for €25,000 and traveled from Norway to Manchester with firearms and cash before being arrested by police. The court found that Natland was recruited by another teenager…Evening Standard
• 16 Oct Norwegian teen sentenced to 20 years for UK murder plot tied to Iran-linked groupJohannes Natland, a Norwegian teenager now 19 years old, received a 20-year sentence on October 16, 2025, at London's Woolwich Crown Court for planning to commit murder in Britain after being recruited by the Foxtrot Network, an Iranian-linked Swedish crime group. Arrested in March 2025 with two firearms and ammunition in Huddersfield, Natland was convicted of firearm possession but denied conspiracy to murder…The Straits Times
• 16 Oct Teenage hitman facing jail over murder plot for Iran-backed gangJohannes Kongsnes Natland, a 19-year-old Norwegian footballer, admitted to a plot to murder someone for 25,000 euros last year. He was recruited by another teenager working for an Iran-backed gang and directed by a handler called "Agent 47." During the operation in Manchester, police found two guns, ammunition, and £2,000 cash in his hotel room after arresting him. Natland faces sentencing this Friday at Woolwich…Evening Standard

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