Norwegian Teen Sentenced to 20 Years for Iran-Linked Assassination Plot in UK
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
A 19-year-old Norwegian, Johannes Ntaland, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in the UK for plotting an assassination on behalf of the Iran-linked Foxtrot Network. He was arrested in March 2025 with weapons and cash before he could carry out the murder. The plot was revealed by information from Norway, leading to his hotel room arrest. The judge stated he was prepared to kill for money at age 18.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Johannes Ntaland, 19, received a 20-year sentence in the UK for an assassination plot.
- Ntaland was recruited by the Swedish Foxtrot Network, allegedly linked to the Iranian regime.
- He was arrested in March 2025 with two handguns and £2,000 before completing the mission.
- The plot was uncovered by Norwegian police sharing intelligence about Ntaland's recruitment.
- The judge stated Ntaland was prepared to murder for money at age 18.
A 19-year-old Norwegian national, Johannes Ntaland, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in the UK after being convicted of conspiracy to commit murder. Ntaland was recruited by the Swedish crime network "Foxtrot Network," which authorities allege operates on behalf of the Iranian regime. He arrived in Britain in March 2025, shortly after his 18th birthday, with a plan to assassinate an as-yet-unidentified target.
Ntaland landed in Manchester and was instructed via the Signal app to collect two handguns, ammunition, and £2,000 in cash from a wooded area. He was also directed to a stolen Nissan with fake license plates intended for the assassination. He was apprehended by police in his hotel room before he could carry out the plan, with the weapons found hidden under his bed.
The plot was uncovered when Norwegian police arrested a teenager involved in Ntaland's recruitment for Foxtrot and found communications detailing the assassination plan. British authorities then raced against time to locate Ntaland. He admitted to possessing the weapons and ammunition but denied conspiracy to murder.
During sentencing at the Woolwich Crown Court, the judge told Ntaland, "You agreed to assassinate another person, a complete stranger to you, in a foreign country. You knew nothing about his life or circumstances. You were only 18 when you prepared yourself to murder for money." The judge expressed certainty that Ntaland would have committed the murder had the police not intervened.
The Foxtrot Network is known for recruiting young individuals for violent acts for payment, a method Europol terms "violence as a service." While authorities link the network to the Iranian regime, it was not explicitly stated that this specific assassination was directly ordered by Iran. Ntaland's defense claimed his statements were made to impress others and that he was scared and did not intend to commit murder.
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