A Norwegian man is on trial in Britain on suspicion of plotting a contract killing
In the United Kingdom, the trial of 19-year-old Norwegian citizen Johannes Natland, who is suspected of plotting a contract killing, is underway. According to the investigation, the young man may have been recruited by members of the Swedish criminal group Foxtrot, which, according to law enforcement officials, has ties to Iran. The prosecution believes he was promised a monetary reward for carrying out the crime.
Prosecutor Alistair Richardson stated in court that Natland agreed to travel to the UK to carry out the murder. According to him, the young man was coordinated remotely, with instructions on where to stay, where to pick up the money, and where the hidden weapon was located.
“He was recruited by the Foxtrot organization under an agreement to pay for his trip here and to carry out the contract,” the prosecutor stated.
The investigation established that in March 2025, Natland obtained an emergency passport and flew to Manchester. Despite the fact that one of his alleged recruiters had been detained on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder even before his departure, the Norwegian did not cancel the trip.
Upon arrival in Britain, border guards noted that he had only £40, had not booked accommodation, and did not have a return ticket. Despite being denied entry, he was allowed to remain in the country temporarily until his return flight.
The next day, Natland traveled to the town of Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, where he checked into the Briar Court Hotel. According to the prosecution, he was sent the coordinates of a hiding place in a wooded area via a messaging app, where he retrieved a pistol, a revolver, and ammunition.
The prosecution also cited a message exchange in which an acquaintance asked the suspect if he had tested the weapons. In response, he allegedly wrote: “No. They’ll test it on that guy.”
On the morning of March 19, a special task force arrested Natland in a hotel room. During a search, law enforcement officers seized two firearms, 12 rounds of ammunition, and approximately $2,000 in cash. Natland pleaded guilty to illegal possession of firearms and ammunition but denies the charge of conspiracy to commit murder.
The trial is expected to last about three weeks.
This was reported by the BBC.
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