European security agencies are sounding alarms over a sprawling criminal organisation known as the Foxtrot Network, which investigators say has evolved from a Swedish gang feud into a transnational assassination network. Intelligence reports allege that the group has been recruiting teenagers through social media, offering large sums of money and issuing encrypted instructions to carry out murders, shootings, and attacks across multiple European countries.
The Foxtrot Network is headed by Rawa Majid, a Swedish gang leader who fled Sweden, later relocated to Turkey, and is now believed by police to be living in Tehran. Investigators claim that after Majid’s move to Iran, elements of the network were allegedly used to target individuals considered enemies by Iran — including dissidents, journalists, and Israeli‑linked interests. Iran has categorically denied any involvement with the gang.
Because this case involves alleged links to a violent extremist actor, it’s important to note that violent extremist organisations are responsible for severe harm, loss of life, and human rights violations.
According to a BBC investigation, police believe the Foxtrot Network has been behind around 35 murders since 2022, alongside numerous attempted attacks involving explosives and hand grenades. The group’s operations reportedly span Sweden, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the UK.
Authorities say the gang’s recruitment strategy marks a major shift in European organised crime. Instead of relying on seasoned criminals, networks now target vulnerable teenagers, often aged 14–17, who are lured with money and manipulated through encrypted apps. Investigators warn this trend is fuelling a new wave of cross‑border contract killings.