{"id":22378,"date":"2026-07-30T21:05:25","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T16:05:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=22378"},"modified":"2026-07-30T21:05:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T16:05:25","slug":"teenager-convicted-of-uk-murder-plot-ordered-by-iran-linked-crime-gang","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=22378","title":{"rendered":"Teenager convicted of UK murder plot ordered by Iran-linked crime gang"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-editable=\"content\" itemprop=\"articleBody\" data-reorderable=\"content\">\n<p>\n<cite class=\"source__cite vossi-source__cite\"><br \/>\n      <span class=\"source__location vossi-source__location\" data-editable=\"location\">London<wbr\/><\/span><span class=\"source__text\" data-editable=\"source\">AP<\/span><wbr\/><span class=\"source__separator\">\u00a0\u2014\u00a0<\/span><br \/>\n    <\/cite><\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph_elevate\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cms6bsblo005k27p03hsc9yrx@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            A Norwegian teenager was convicted in a London court on Wednesday of traveling to Britain to carry out a contract killing on behalf of an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/05\/11\/europe\/europe-antisemitic-attacks-online-groups-iran-claim-intl-cmd\">international crime gang<\/a> linked to Iran.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph_elevate\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cms6bu3ac00083d5teh9vg90z@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Prosecutors said Johannes Kongsnes Natland, 19, agreed to shoot an unknown person for 25,000 euros ($28,000) in March last year. But two days after arriving in the UK, he was arrested at a hotel in Huddersfield in northern England with two guns and ammunition.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph_elevate\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cms6bu3ac00093d5t8j5vedjn@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            A jury at Central London Criminal Court found Natland guilty of conspiracy to murder after deliberating for more than 17 hours.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph_elevate\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cms6bu3ac000a3d5tvqnq569v@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Natland, who was working part-time at a pizza restaurant at the time of his arrest, was recruited by a Swedish organized crime group known as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/interactive\/2025\/world\/iran-israel-swedish-teenagers-shadow-war-intl-invs\/\">Foxtrot Network<\/a>, which has links to the Iranian government, counterterrorism officers from London\u2019s Metropolitan Police Service said in a statement.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph_elevate\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cms6bub0x000d3d5t9v7q55ek@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cAlthough the target of the murder plot has never been identified, (counterterror) London officers uncovered a significant amount of evidence demonstrating that Natland was fully aware he was being asked to kill someone in the UK,\u201d the statement said.\n    <\/p>\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/image\/instances\/cms6cc3ot00123d5t8jnn55yb@published\" class=\"image_large-elevate vossi-image_large-elevate  image_large__hide-placeholder\" data-image-variation=\"image_large\" data-name=\"AP26210436999957.jpg\" data-component-name=\"image\" data-observe-resizes=\"\" data-breakpoints=\"{\" image_large--eq-extra-small=\"\" data-original-ratio=\"0.5629709364908504\" data-original-height=\"1046\" data-original-width=\"1858\" data-url=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/ap26210436999957.jpg?c=original\" data-editable=\"settings\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image_large__container \" data-image-variation=\"image_large\" data-breakpoints=\"{\" image_large--eq-extra-small=\"\">\n       <picture class=\"image_large__picture\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"679\" media=\"(max-width: 479px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/ap26210436999957.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_679,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"967\" media=\"(min-width: 480px) and (max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/ap26210436999957.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_967,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"860\" media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/ap26210436999957.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_860,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"860\" media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/ap26210436999957.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_860,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"860\" media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/ap26210436999957.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_860,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/ap26210436999957.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_860,c_fill\" alt=\"Undated handout file photo issued on June 10, 2026, by the Metropolitan Police showing Natland pretending to shoot an armed officer during his arrest.\" class=\"image_large__dam-img image_large__dam-img--loading\" onload=\"this.classList.remove('image_large__dam-img--loading')\" onerror=\"imageLoadError(this)\" height=\"1046\" width=\"1858\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph_elevate\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cms6bucg5000f3d5t5famevq1@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Natland was hired by a 17-year-old known as \u201cGeneralen.\u201d A court in Norway last year convicted the teenager of attempting to \u201ccontribute to murder\u201d and sentenced him to 14 years in custody. A 16-year-old is awaiting trial in Norway for his role in the conspiracy.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph_elevate\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cms6c73dn000w3d5to2moukd6@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Natland told his girlfriend he was \u201cgoing on a crazy mission\u201d before travelling to the UK, according to Britain\u2019s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph_elevate\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cms6c79kr000y3d5thcnffqss@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            After collecting the weapons, the CPS said he messaged her to say \u201cin the bag is bang\u201d and sent her a selfie holding a firearm, which he captioned \u201csoon it will happen.\u201d\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph_elevate\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cms6chf1200143d5t80phx3xe@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            He was arrested by specialist firearms officers in his hotel room on March 19, 2025, the CPS said.\n    <\/p>\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/image\/instances\/cms6dhdbq00023b6rdk9zs4bp@published\" class=\"image_medium-elevate vossi-image_medium-elevate  portrait image_medium__hide-placeholder\" data-image-variation=\"image_medium\" data-name=\"AP26210437130994A.JPG\" data-component-name=\"image\" data-observe-resizes=\"\" data-breakpoints=\"{\" image_medium--eq-extra-small=\"\" data-original-ratio=\"1.3333333333333333\" data-original-height=\"2000\" data-original-width=\"1500\" data-url=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/ap26210437130994a.JPG?c=original\" data-editable=\"settings\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image_medium__container \" data-image-variation=\"image_medium\" data-breakpoints=\"{\" image_medium--eq-extra-small=\"\">\n       <picture class=\"image_medium__picture\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"639\" media=\"(max-width: 479px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/ap26210437130994a.JPG?c=original&amp;q=w_639,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"632\" media=\"(min-width: 480px) and (max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/ap26210437130994a.JPG?c=original&amp;q=w_632,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"632\" media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/ap26210437130994a.JPG?c=original&amp;q=w_632,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"632\" media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/ap26210437130994a.JPG?c=original&amp;q=w_632,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"632\" media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/ap26210437130994a.JPG?c=original&amp;q=w_632,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/ap26210437130994a.JPG?c=original&amp;q=w_632,c_fill\" alt=\"Undated handout file photo originally issued on June 5 by the Metropolitan Police of Natland wearing gloves whilst handling a gun.\" class=\"image_medium__dam-img image_medium__dam-img--loading\" onload=\"this.classList.remove('image_medium__dam-img--loading')\" onerror=\"imageLoadError(this)\" height=\"2000\" width=\"1500\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph_elevate\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cms6bueie000h3d5t5h76vo67@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            The UK government last year announced sanctions against Foxtrot Network and its leader \u201cdue to their involvement in violence against Jewish and Israeli targets in Europe on behalf of the Iranian regime.\u201d\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph_elevate\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cms6buqjq000j3d5t03zaznut@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            The sanctions include an asset freeze that bars UK businesses from handling funds or other economic assets controlled by the organization.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph_elevate\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cms6c20qc000s3d5tvl80q4qs@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS\u2019 special crime and counterterrorism division, said the plot was a \u201ccalculated plan to kill for money.\u201d\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph_elevate\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cms6c412s000u3d5tlgid6dxg@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cThis case shows how organised crime networks operate across borders and exploit young people to carry out serious violence,\u201d Ferguson said.\n    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>LondonAP\u00a0\u2014\u00a0 A Norwegian teenager was convicted in a London court on Wednesday of traveling to Britain to carry out a contract killing on behalf of an international crime gang linked to Iran. Prosecutors said Johannes Kongsnes Natland, 19, agreed to shoot an unknown person for 25,000 euros ($28,000) in March last year. But two days&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22379,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/ap26210437275519.jpg?c=16x9&q=w_800,c_fill","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22378","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-trending-viral-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22378","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=22378"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22378\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/22379"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=22378"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=22378"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=22378"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}