Teen Norwegian 'hitman' allegedly hired to carry out hit in the UK on behalf of Iran-backed gang facing retrial

By MILES DILWORTH and DUNCAN GARDHAM Published: 16:07, 18 June 2026 | Updated: 16:07, 18 June 2026 A Norwegian teenager allegedly hired to carry out a hit in the UK on behalf of an Iran-backed gang is facing a retrial after a jury failed to reach a verdict. Johannes Natland, 18 at the time, flew from Stavanger, south-west Norway, to Britain to assassinate a target in return for £21,000, the Old Bailey was told. He was thwarted when he was arrested in a hotel room in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, on March 19 last year, two days after his arrival. Police found a semi-automatic pistol, a revolver, and 12 rounds of ammunition in his possession, as well as £2,000 in cash, the court heard. Prosecuting, Alistair Richardson said Natland was 'committed to the task of murder'. Johannes Natland, 19, travelled from the oil-rich town of Stavanger, south west Norway, to assassinate a target in the UK 'in return for money', the Old Bailey was told Natland admitted possession of the firearms but denied conspiracy to murder. Giving evidence, he said he was 'terrified' and planned to sabotage the plot at the last minute by shooting himself in the foot. His mother, watching from the public gallery, sobbed and blew kisses to her son in the dock as the judge discharged the jury and ordered a retrial. The murder plot was hatched by a Swedish gang called the Foxtrot Network, a ruthless organised crime group used by the Iranian regime, the court heard. Natland became involved in the Huddersfield plot when he received a message on Signal about a 'murder in England' from a user called 'Unknown Hustler', the Old Bailey was told. Natland - who is now 19 - was then added to a group chat with a Norwegian recruiter and a shadowy Foxtrot figure known as Agent 47. The defendant flew from Stavanger to Manchester on March 17. He was questioned by suspicious Border Force officials and ultimately refused entry to the UK - but was told to return to the airport for a flight home four days later. This meant Natland was free to enter the country. The following day, he was directed by his recruiters to a wood in Huddersfield to collect the guns and ammunition, the jury was told. After checking in at a nearby hotel, he messaged his girlfriend to say: 'In the bag is bang.' At 10.39pm that evening a friend asked Natland: 'U dun it?' and he replied: 'No. tomorrow.' But at 5.15am on March 19, firearms officers arrested him in his room at the Briar Court Hotel in Huddersfield. The prosecution suggested Natland's plan to sabotage the plot was a 'lie', adding that he had boasted to his friends about the mission. Natland was found with £2,000 in cash in his hotel room in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire Johannes Natland holds a semi-automatic pistol that he picked up in a wood in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. The gun was later found in his hotel room alongside a revolver The court heard the teenager also told his then-girlfriend that 'it will be a bit cool to really kill someone'. Giving evidence, Sara Solbi, 19, said Natland told her: 'If I don't get caught we have to celebrate'. The intended target remains unknown, but Natland 'neither knew, nor cared' who he was to murder, the prosecution said. Natland was a talented student and footballer before getting hooked on drugs including cannabis, LSD and cocaine, the jury was told. The defendant told the court he agreed to the job because he 'wanted some money' and 'was going to buy a lot of drugs'. He said at first he thought it might be a scam, but as the mission drew closer it dawned on him it was 'real'. 'I thought I am in a bit of a pickle here,' he added. The teenager admitted he had 'made a lot of bad choices'. Jurors retired to deliberate on a verdict on Tuesday morning and were given a majority direction by Mr Justice Lavender on Thursday. Shortly before 3pm, the senior judge discharged the jury after it failed to reach a verdict following 14 hours and 43 minutes in retirement. Prosecutor Alistair Richardson said the Crown would seek a retrial and Natland was remanded into custody. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.