In a chilling demonstration of a new criminal tactic, the Foxtrot Network, an organized crime group with alleged ties to the Iranian regime, is reportedly recruiting teenagers to carry out murders across Europe. This "violence-as-a-service" model leverages vulnerable young people, often directed through gamified social media instructions, to execute killings.

One stark example occurred in a Stockholm suburb last February, where 18-year-old Atilla Azimov, hired by Foxtrot, fatally shot 20-year-old Murad Abdelkader. Azimov mistakenly killed the wrong man, highlighting the chaotic and dangerous nature of the network's operations. He was subsequently jailed for life for the mistaken killing.

Since 2022, the Foxtrot Network is believed to be responsible for approximately 35 murders and numerous attacks or attempted attacks against Israeli targets in Europe. These incidents have involved explosives and hand grenades, underscoring the escalating violence associated with the group.

Europol's Operational Taskforce (OTF) GRIMM, established to combat this "violence-as-a-service" phenomenon, notes that these teenage assassins are often recruited online and receive instructions that mimic video game mechanics. Andy Kraag, head of Europol's European Serious and Organised Crime Centre, described this as a "calculated outsourcing of murder to vulnerable young people."

The OTF GRIMM currently comprises 11 European countries grappling with this issue: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The network's leader, Rawa Majid, is reported to have fled Sweden, operating from Turkey and now residing in Tehran.

Investigative journalist Diamant Salihu revealed that the Iranian regime allegedly directs Majid and his network to target its enemies, including dissidents, opposition journalists, and Israeli interests. These links reportedly intensified after Majid relocated to Tehran in October 2023, entering into an agreement to operate freely in exchange for carrying out regime-sanctioned attacks.

While some attacks are attributed to the Iranian regime's agenda, others are part of Foxtrot's internal disputes, particularly related to drug turf wars. The Foxtrot Network and Rawa Majid were sanctioned by the UK government in April 2025, a month after Majid's arrest.

Despite the network's extensive reach and violent activities, they "almost never have to pay out" for their hired teenage killers, as these young individuals are frequently apprehended. This pattern was seen with Norwegian teenager Johannes Natland, convicted in London for conspiracy to murder, illustrating the high risk and low reward for the foot soldiers in this criminal enterprise.