UK Contract Killing Plot Ends in Guilty Verdict

A Norwegian teenager has been found guilty of taking part in a plot to carry out a contract killing in the United Kingdom after traveling from Norway under instructions linked to an international organized crime network.

Johannes Kongsnes Natland, 19, from Stavanger, was convicted of conspiracy to murder following a retrial at a London court. The verdict came after jurors spent more than 17 hours considering the evidence presented during the case.

The court heard that Natland traveled to England in March 2025 after agreeing to carry out a killing for payment. Prosecutors said he accepted an offer worth €25,000, or about £21,500, to target an unidentified person in the UK.

Authorities arrested Natland only days after his arrival. Armed police officers detained him at a hotel in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, before any attack could take place.

During a search of the hotel room, officers recovered two firearms and ammunition. Investigators said the weapons included a semi-automatic pistol, a revolver, and multiple rounds of ammunition.

The intended victim was never identified publicly. Officials said the operation was stopped before the planned attack could be carried out.

According to evidence presented in court, Natland had connections to the Foxtrot Network, a criminal organization based in Sweden. Prosecutors described the group as a major organized crime network involved in serious criminal activity.

Investigators said Natland was recruited through contacts connected to the organization. The court heard that he was directed by an English-speaking handler who used the name “Agent 47,” a nickname that investigators believe was intended to hide the person’s true identity.

Authorities have not identified the individual behind the alias. The person’s location also remains unknown.

During the trial, Natland admitted that he initially agreed to take part in the plan. However, he claimed he did not believe the proposal was real when he first became involved.

He told jurors that he thought the offer was either a joke or a scam. According to his testimony, he later became frightened after realizing the situation was serious.

Natland said he felt trapped by the people involved and claimed he had no intention of completing the killing. He told the court that he considered injuring himself to avoid carrying out the assignment.

The prosecution challenged that account. Prosecutors argued that evidence showed Natland fully understood what he had agreed to do.

The court heard details of messages sent before his trip. In one message presented during the trial, Natland discussed going on a mission and referred to the possibility of killing someone. Prosecutors said the messages demonstrated his awareness of the criminal plan.

Witnesses also testified about conversations they had with Natland before his arrest. One friend recalled hearing him speak about receiving a large amount of money and expecting that someone would die.

Natland told the court that those comments were not serious and described them as attempts to appear tough in front of others. He said he was scared and overwhelmed by the situation.

The jury also heard that Natland provided misleading information after his arrest. Prosecutors said he made false statements during the investigation and later tried to influence potential evidence through communications made while in custody.

Before traveling to England, Natland had lived in Norway and worked part-time at a pizza restaurant. The court heard that he had faced personal difficulties during his teenage years and had become involved with drugs at a young age.

Evidence showed that he flew from Stavanger to Manchester Airport using a temporary passport. After arriving in the UK, he came to the attention of border officials.

Instead of returning home, prosecutors said he traveled to Huddersfield, where he obtained cash, weapons, ammunition, and a vehicle that had false registration details.

Police arrested him the following morning during an early operation at the hotel.

The judge ordered that Natland remain in custody while awaiting sentencing. He is scheduled to return to court in October.

The case has drawn attention because of concerns about international criminal groups operating across borders. Law enforcement agencies continue to investigate the wider network connected to the plot and are working to identify those who organized and directed the operation.

Officials said the conviction highlights the importance of international cooperation in preventing serious crimes and disrupting organized criminal activity before attacks can occur.