A jury has failed to reach a verdict in the trial of a Norwegian teenager accused of flying to the UK to murder an unknown target on behalf of an Iran-linked gang.
Johannes Natland, 19, was arrested at a hotel in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, on 19 March last year, with armed police seizing two guns, 12 live bullets and £2,000 in cash.
The Old Bailey heard he had been recruited days earlier by the Sweden-based Foxtrot network, which has allegedly been used by the Iranian regime.
Natland flew to Manchester Airport from his home in Stavanger, south-west Norway, on 17 March.
He has pleaded guilty to possession of a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and a revolver along with 12 rounds of live ammunition but denies a charge of conspiracy to murder.
He told the jury he planned to shoot himself in the foot instead of killing the unknown target.
The judge, Mr Justice Lavender, discharged the jury after they said they could not reach a verdict following more than two days of deliberation.
He ordered a retrial at a date to be fixed and remanded Natland in custody.
(c) Sky News 2026: Jury fails to reach verdict in trial of alleged hitman
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