A BBC investigation, drawing on Europol, Swedish police, and investigative journalist Diamant Salihu, reveals that the Swedish organized-crime network Foxtrot, suspected of ties to the Islamic Republic, recruited teenagers via social media to carry out assassinations and attacks across Europe on behalf of Iran. The investigation says the network's leader, Rawa Majid, is believed to be in Tehran, from where attacks were directed against Israeli targets, regime opponents, and journalists.
A BBC investigation published Sunday, relying on Europol, Swedish police, and investigative journalist Diamant Salihu, details how the Swedish Foxtrot crime network recruited teenagers via social media to carry out assassinations and attacks across Europe for the Iranian regime. The teenagers were directed through encrypted messaging apps, according to the report.
The investigation states that Swedish authorities assess the network's leader, Rawa Majid, to be in Tehran, where he is believed to have directed attacks against Israeli targets, Iranian regime opponents, and journalists on behalf of the Islamic Republic.
The Zioneer has previously reported on the Foxtrot network, including the conviction of a 19-year-old Norwegian in the UK for conspiracy to commit murder in a plot linked to the network (June 12 and July 29, 2026). The network has also been tied to broader Iranian efforts to recruit foreign nationals for intelligence-gathering and assassination operations, as disclosed by Mossad in July 2026.
The investigation does not specify the number of attacks or teens recruited, but describes a systematic pattern of recruitment and operational direction from Iranian territory.
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