Norwegian teenager jailed for 20 years over UK murder plot

Summary

Johannes Kongsnes Natland, 19, has been sentenced to 20 years over a plot to carry out a murder in the UK. The BBC reports that he travelled to West Yorkshire in March last year; The Guardian says he was arrested in Huddersfield with two guns and live ammunition. The Straits Times says he was allegedly recruited online by a Swedish organised-crime group linked to Iran to shoot an unknown target for €25,000, while The Times of Israel reports he was convicted of conspiracy to carry out a contract killing for $28,000.

Timeline

1. The Straits Times

   16 Oct 2026, 10:55 UTCSource ↗

   The Straits Times reports that Natland was allegedly recruited online by a Swedish organised-crime group linked to Iran to shoot an unknown target for €25,000.

2. The Guardian

   16 Oct 2026, 12:40 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian reports that Natland was jailed for 20 years after travelling from Norway to carry out a murder for an Iran-backed crime gang, and that he was arrested in Huddersfield with two guns and live ammunition.

3. BBC

   16 Oct 2026, 13:43 UTCSource ↗

   The BBC identifies the teenager as Johannes Natland and reports that he travelled to West Yorkshire in March last year to carry out a hit.

4. The Times of Israel

   16 Oct 2026, 15:28 UTCSource ↗

   The Times of Israel reports that Natland was sentenced to 20 years after being convicted of conspiracy to carry out a contract killing for $28,000, and was arrested with two guns and ammunition.

5. Euronews

   17 Oct 2026, 06:33 UTCSource ↗

   Euronews reports that video shows Natland's arrest and says he was sentenced to 20 years in detention over the UK contract-killing plot.