Arrest at Briar Court Hotel
A 19 year old Norwegian man named Johannes Natland has been accused of travelling to the United Kingdom for a planned killing linked to organised crime.
Police arrested him at the Briar Court Hotel in Huddersfield. Officers found two firearms and 12 live rounds of ammunition.
Body worn camera footage shown at the Old Bailey captured the moment he opened his hotel room door. A laser sight was pointed at his chest. He then allegedly mimed holding a gun and acted out shooting toward officers.
Charges and Court Plea
He has admitted possession of two working firearms and ammunition. He denies conspiracy to murder.
Prosecutors claim he was sent to the UK to carry out a targeted killing for a criminal group known as Foxtrot Network. They say the group has links to Iran.
The case is being heard at the Old Bailey.
Messages and Travel Into the UK
Court evidence says he joined a Signal group chat shortly after turning 18. He reportedly asked who the target was soon after joining.
He later travelled from Stavanger in Norway to Manchester using an emergency passport.
At the airport, Border Force officers questioned him. He had only a small amount of cash, no return ticket, and no accommodation booked.
He was refused entry but allowed a temporary stay before a planned return flight.
Cash Drops and Firearms Instructions
After arriving in the UK, he took a taxi to Huddersfield. He was allegedly guided by messages to hidden cash near a walkway underpass.
He collected the money and checked into a hotel, paying in cash.
Further instructions reportedly led him to woodland outside the town, where he collected two handguns.
He was also directed to a stolen car with a hidden key placed under a wheel.
Online Sharing and Behaviour
Later that day, he bought alcohol and sent videos of the weapons to a friend.
He also sent images showing cash spread across a hotel bed.
In another image shared earlier, he posed with money laid out in front of him inside the hotel room.
