The teenage hitmen recruited to kill across Europe

Aug 2, 2026 · 3:19 AM UTC ·6 min read · 0 reactions · 0 comments · 9 views

#crime #terrorism #organizedcrime #europe #youth

TL;DR · WeSearch summary

The Foxtrot Network, an organised crime group linked to the Iranian regime, recruits teenagers across Europe to carry out murders and attacks for cash. The network uses social media and gamified instructions, leading to dozens of killings, including the 2022 murder by 18‑year‑old Atilla Azimov in Sweden. Recent convictions, such as Norwegian teen Johannes Natland, illustrate the calculated outsourcing of violence to vulnerable youths.

Key facts

▪Since 2022 the Foxtrot Network is believed to have been responsible for about 35 murders and several attacks on Israeli targets in Europe.
▪Teenagers are recruited via social media with gamified instructions, as seen in the case of 18‑year‑old Atilla Azimov who was sentenced to life for a mistaken killing in Stockholm.
▪Norwegian teenager Johannes Natland was convicted of conspiracy to murder after being recruited through online handles to carry out a hit in the UK.
▪Foxtrot leader Rawa Majid fled Sweden, relocated to Tehran, and is alleged to work for the Iranian regime, leading to UK sanctions on the network in April 2025.

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Record

Original publisher	Bbc
Canonical URL	https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czrjyevmv61o
Publication time	Sun, 02 Aug 2026 03:19:17 +0000
Retrieval time	2026-08-02T03:50:40.991Z
Last seen	2026-08-02T03:50:40.991Z
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Publisher visit	Yes — open original
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Basis: Derived from the published RSS/Atom feed. Contact: [email protected]. Reviewed: 2026-07-24.

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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand

Young guns for hire - the teenage hitmen recruited to kill across Europe5 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleDaniel SandfordUK correspondentSwedish PoliceAtilla Azimov posing with a gun three months before he killed Murad AbdelkaderIn a Stockholm suburb a man dressed in black appeared out of the winter night. Carrying a handgun, he approached 20-year-old Murad Abdelkader, a student on his way back from a shift at McDonald's. The gunman opened fire, shooting again and again as he approached his target. He fired the last shot into his victim's head as he lay helpless on the ground. The killer was 18-year-old Atilla Azimov.

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