A 19-year-old from Norway told customer officers at Manchester Airport that he was here to 'see landmarks', but he was arrested and accused of conspiracy to murder16:15, 03 Jun 2026A Norwegian teen was recruited by a Swedish organised crime group, used by the Iranian regime, to murder someone in England, a court has heard.Johannes Kongsnes Natland, 19, flew to the UK with an alleged plan to "undertake a hit" in exchange for money, but told airport officials he came to "see landmarks". The teenager was allegedly acting for an organisation called Foxtrot Network, a Swedish organised crime group used by the Iranian regime.The defendant flew from Norway to Manchester Airport, on March 18, but was arrested in a hotel room in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire two days later, the court heard.Police discovered a semi-automatic pistol, a revolver, and 12 rounds of live ammunition in his possession, it was heard. Prosecutor Alastair Richardson told the trial opening that Natland, from Stavanger in south-west Norway, had agreed to work for the group "in return for some money".The court heard an individual, referred to as Agent 47, had contacted a figure with username Generalen to ask for someone to carry out an assassination in the UK. In the message, Agent 47 told Generalen that there was 25,000 euros (£21,590) "in the pot".Natland was then contacted on March 15 by a user, called UnknownHustler, informing him of the job, jurors heard. The Norwegian later messaged his girlfriend to say: "I'm going on a crazy mission."The court was also shown another message where Generalen told Agent 47 in a group chat with Natland: "This is the assassin for EU, brother."Upon arrival in the UK, Natland was interviewed by Border Force officers over concerns surrounding his age and lack of money. The teen told them that he had arrived to the city to visit his gamer friends and see landmarks, the court was told.The defendant left the airport and took a taxi to a hotel in Manchester. That night, Agent 47 sent Natland a message reading: "Sleep and when you wake up we start." Jurors heard that Natland collected the guns and ammunition then messaged his girlfriend to say: "In the bag is bang." He also bought rubber gloves and lined up a car, the prosecutor told jurors.Specialist firearms officers showed up at the Briar Court Hotel in Huddersfield, on March 19, then arrested the teenager. The court heard that as the defendant came to the doorway, he held his hands up "imitating holding a firearm, and pretended to shoot one of the officer".Mr Richardson told jurors: "The group that had recruited him, the Foxtrot Network, is a Swedish organised crime group used by the Iranian regime. We do not know who the defendant was planning to murder, but as you will see from his messages, the messages of others, and what he told his friends in Norway before he set out on his plan, it was clear that was his plan."The prosecutor also told the court that Foxtrot Network, although based in Sweden, had leadership that lived elsewhere, then added: "The Foxtrot network often use perpetrators who are very young, and with whom they have no direct link. The use of social media has enabled the rapid increase of cross-border crime."Mr Richardson said that the group operates with several levels of organisation, including instigators which "fits neatly" with Agent 47, and lower end recruiters, such as Generalen. He added that facilitators are said to be responsible for the logistics of the crime and enforcers are the young men at the "bottom of the chain".He told the court these enforcers are often individuals from "institutions such as care homes" and had "no connection with the intended victim". The prosecutor said he is informing the jury of this so that they understand the serious nature of the enterprise the defendant has allegedly entered into.Article continues belowNatland denies a charge of conspiracy to murder. The Old Bailey trial continues.