A 19-year-old from Norway who flew to the UK to murder a complete stranger for a notorious crime gang now faces life behind bars. Johannes Kongsnes Natland thought the deadly mission would make him look “cool” in front of his girlfriend, but instead it landed him in front of a jury.
According to court documents, Natland was recruited by the Sweden-based Foxtrot Network, a group backed by the Iranian regime and linked to dozens of killings. He didn’t even know who his target was or why they had to die. All he wanted was the £21,600 payment and a chance to impress his peers.
He traveled from Stavanger to Manchester on a temporary passport in March last year. Border officials stopped him but allowed him to return. Instead of flying home, he took a taxi to Huddersfield, picked up two guns and ammunition, and checked into a hotel.
Armed police raided his room the next morning, finding the weapons and cash.
At trial, Natland claimed he planned to shoot himself in the foot to escape the situation. But prosecutors said he repeatedly lied and even tried to pressure his girlfriend not to testify. The jury took over 17 hours to find him guilty of conspiracy to murder.
His recruiter, a 17-year-old known as “Generalen,” was already convicted in Norway. The controller, called “Agent 47” after the video game character, remains at large.
So what drove a young footballer from a supportive home to take on a hit for a gang that uses children as young as 13 in its operations? The answer might be more disturbing than any courtroom 𝒹𝓇𝒶𝓂𝒶.
