Norwegian teenage hitman who flew to UK to commit murder jailed

Norwegian teenager, 19, jailed for 20 years for conspiracy to murder after being recruited by an Iran-backed crime gang.

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Johannes Kongsnes Natland, a 19-year-old Norwegian, has been sentenced to 20 years in detention for conspiracy to murder. He was arrested in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in March last year after armed police found him in possession of a semi-automatic pistol, a revolver, 12 rounds of live ammunition, and gloves.

Natland had travelled to the UK from his home in Stavanger, Norway, with the intention of carrying out a murder on behalf of an Iran-backed international crime gang. He had agreed to shoot an unknown target in return for €25,000 (£21,500).

The court heard that Natland had been recruited by another teenager, referred to as Generalen, who was working for the proscribed Swedish Foxtrot gang. This gang is backed by the Iranian regime and known for recruiting children as young as 13 to become involved in drug smuggling and violent crimes.

Natland had been controlled by an English-speaking boss called Agent 47, whose identity and whereabouts remain unknown. He flew into Manchester on a temporary passport and was stopped by Border Force officials, who bailed him to return to the airport to catch the next direct flight home.

Instead, Natland travelled by taxi to Huddersfield, where he booked into the Briar Court hotel and picked up the guns and ammunition, as well as £2,000 in cash. He was directed to a stolen Nissan with false number plates, which was to be used in the murder.

While in the hotel, Natland took selfies with the guns and cash spread out on his bed, and bragged to his girlfriend that he had the “bangs in the bag”. Armed police arrived to arrest him at 5.15am the next day.