Alleged Hitman Mimed Shooting Police During Dramatic Arrest

A man accused of being a contract killer mimed shooting at armed police officers during his arrest, a court has heard. Johannes Natland, 31, is standing trial at the Old Bailey charged with conspiracy to commit murder after an undercover operation allegedly exposed him as a gun-for-hire.

The Norwegian national gestured as if firing a weapon at officers who intercepted him outside a London hotel in March 2024. Police had been tracking Natland for three weeks before moving in to make the arrest.

Undercover Operation Leads to Arrest

Prosecutors told the jury that Natland had agreed to carry out a contract killing for £15,000. The alleged target, a businessman from Essex whose identity is protected by the court, had supposedly been marked for death over a property dispute.

But the person Natland thought was hiring him was actually an undercover police officer.

During surveillance operations, officers observed Natland conducting what appeared to be reconnaissance of the target’s home and workplace. He’d photographed entry points, noted security cameras, and tracked the victim’s daily routines. Police seized a notebook containing detailed observations about the businessman’s movements, including school drop-off times for his children.

Dramatic Confrontation With Armed Officers

When armed officers approached Natland outside the Kensington hotel where he’d been staying, he initially appeared compliant. Then, according to testimony, he suddenly raised his hands in the shape of a gun and made shooting gestures at the officers.

„It was a bizarre and frankly disturbing moment,” a police source said. „Here was someone we believed to be capable of extreme violence, making light of the situation even as he was being arrested.”

Officers found no actual firearm on Natland at the time of arrest. Yet prosecutors argue he’d been actively seeking to acquire one through criminal contacts in the capital.

Defence Claims Entrapment

Natland’s defence team argues their client was entrapped by police and never genuinely intended to carry out a murder. They claim he was struggling financially and simply went along with what he thought was easy money, never believing the situation was real.

The defendant denies conspiracy to commit murder. His lawyers say the gesture during arrest was nervous laughter rather than anything sinister.

So far, the trial has heard from six witnesses, including surveillance officers and the undercover operative who made initial contact with Natland through encrypted messaging apps. The prosecution is expected to present phone records showing 47 exchanges between Natland and the undercover officer over a three-week period.

The trial continues and is expected to last another two weeks. If convicted, Natland faces a potential life sentence.