A 19-year-old Norwegian man has been convicted of conspiring to commit murder after travelling to Britain with two firearms and ammunition as part of an alleged assassination plot, the UK Defence Journal understands.
Johannes Kongsnes Natland was found guilty following a two-week trial at the Old Bailey. He had previously admitted two offences relating to the possession of firearms and ammunition and is due to be sentenced in October.
Natland was arrested by officers at a hotel in Huddersfield during the early hours of 19 March 2025, two days after arriving at Manchester Airport. Police found a semi-automatic pistol, a revolver and 19 rounds of ammunition inside a plastic bag beneath his bed.
Investigators from Counter Terrorism Policing London said Natland had been recruited by the Foxtrot Network, an organised crime group sanctioned by the UK government. The network has also been linked to criminal activity carried out on behalf of the Iranian state.
The intended target has not been identified, but police said evidence recovered during the investigation showed Natland understood he had been asked to kill someone in the UK.
CCTV from Manchester Airport and the Huddersfield hotel showed that Natland had travelled by taxi to a wooded area, where he collected the bag containing the weapons. Messages found on his phone included maps, photographs and videos directing him to the location of the concealed firearms.
Further examination of his digital communications found that he had been contacted through social media while still in Norway and asked to carry out a shooting in Britain. A payment of €25,000 was discussed.
Police said a user operating under the name “Agent 47” instructed Natland which flight to take and what to do after arriving in the UK. The same account directed him to an address in Huddersfield, where he collected money, before telling him which hotel to book.
During his time in Britain, Natland sent photographs of the weapons to friends in Norway. When asked by one friend whether he had tested them, he replied: “Hell no. They will be tested on the guy.”
Natland told the court that he had not intended to carry out the killing and instead planned to shoot himself in the foot to avoid repercussions for refusing the task. The jury rejected that account and convicted him of conspiracy to commit murder.
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said, as quoted in a news update: “Due to the swift and professional work of CTP London officers, supported by officers from West Yorkshire Police and CTP North East, Natland was arrested before he was able to carry out a murder in the UK.”
She added: “This investigation highlights the importance of the strong links with our international law enforcement partners to counter the very real threat of criminal organisations across European borders. We’ve worked particularly closely with colleagues from Norwegian law enforcement authorities and as a result, we have stopped somebody from being assassinated here in the UK.”
Flanagan continued: “Our investigation, which remains ongoing, has also resulted in two lethal weapons and ammunition being taken out of criminal hands and off the streets of the UK which has undoubtedly made the public safer.”
The case involved cooperation between Counter Terrorism Policing London, West Yorkshire Police, Counter Terrorism Policing North East and Norwegian law enforcement authorities.
The investigation remains active. A 27-year-old man arrested in September 2025 on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder has since been released under investigation.
Two other men, aged 30 and 27, were arrested in Bradford on 20 May on suspicion of handling a stolen car. Both were released on bail after being questioned.
Norwegian. That’s something different.