UK Court Convicts Norwegian Teen for Iran‑Linked Foxtrot Network Murder Plot

On 29 July, a London court found 19‑year‑old Norwegian Johannes Natland guilty of conspiracy to murder in the United Kingdom. Natland had been recruited in Norway by the Foxtrot Network, a criminal gang described by authorities as operating on behalf of the Iranian regime. He was instructed by a senior gang member known as Ali Shehab, alias “Agent 47”, and was to carry out an assassination in Britain for a payment of about €25,000.

Police intercepted Natland in March 2025 at a hotel in Huddersfield, discovering two pistols and ammunition. Interrogation revealed that the plot was part of Foxtrot’s broader strategy of recruiting minors for terrorist‑style attacks across Europe. The trial highlighted the network’s links to Iran‑aligned operatives such as Rawa Majid, the gang’s leader. Natland claimed he intended to shoot himself in the foot to avoid killing anyone, but the jury rejected the explanation and convicted him of conspiracy. The case underscores concerns about Iran‑backed criminal groups exploiting vulnerable youths to further violent objectives in Western countries.