Norwegian teen was in UK to 'undertake a hit', court hears

A Norwegian teenager arrived in the UK to "undertake a hit" on behalf of a Swedish organised crime group linked to Iran, a jury has heard.

Johannes Natland, 19, was arrested in a hotel in Huddersfield on 19 March 2025 with two guns and 12 rounds of ammunition after travelling to the country on an emergency passport.

Prosecutors allege he collected the guns from a "hide" in a wooded area in the West Yorkshire town.

Natland has pleaded guilty to being in possession of two working firearms – a semi-automatic pistol and a revolver – and 12 rounds of live ammunition. He denies a charge of conspiracy to murder.

Opening the case for the prosecution, Alistair Richardson said Natland had been "recruited by an organisation called the Foxtrot network" under an agreement that he would be paid to "travel here and undertake a hit".

"He was directed by others to a hotel, to a stash of money, and then a stash of guns and ammunition," the court heard.

The jury was told Foxtrot "is a Swedish organised crime group used by the Iranian regime".

"We do not know who the defendant was planning to murder," Richardson told the court.