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A jury has been unable to reach a verdict in the case of a Norwegian teenager standing trial for allegedly traveling to England to carry out a murder on behalf of an international criminal organization with links to Iran. The 19-year-old defendant, Johannes Kongsnes Natland, is accused of agreeing to assassinate an unspecified individual in exchange for 25,000 euros (£21,500) through collaboration with the Swedish Foxes gang in March of the previous year.
Shortly after arriving in the United Kingdom, Natland was apprehended by armed officers at a hotel in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. During the arrest, police confiscated two firearms and 12 live rounds. While Natland admitted to possessing the weapons and ammunition, he denied any involvement in conspiracy to commit murder. Following the jury’s deadlock, the prosecution announced their intention to pursue a retrial, and Natland has been remanded in custody.
The jury began their deliberations on Tuesday morning after receiving majority direction from Mr Justice Lavender. After nearly 15 hours of consideration, the judge dismissed the jury at around 3 pm BST, due to their inability to come to a unanimous decision. This development means that the trial cannot conclude with a verdict at this stage.
A retrial will now be scheduled to resolve the charges against Natland. The case remains significant due to the alleged connections between the Norwegian defendant, the Swedish Foxes gang, and a broader international crime network reportedly supported by Iranian interests
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