Trial date set for Norwegian teenager allegedly caught with guns in Huddersfield hotel
The 18 year old was arrested two days after arriving into the UK
A trial date has been set for a Norwegian teenager after he was allegedly caught with two guns in a hotel room in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.
Johannes Kongsnes Natland, 18, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder and having a firearm and ammunition on March 19, two days after arriving in the UK from Norway.
Specialist firearms officers from West Yorkshire Police who had gone to the hotel to arrest the defendant seized what are believed to be two firearms and a quantity of ammunition from his room.
The firearms are alleged to be a black Luger 9mm semi-automatic pistol and a revolver.
Natland appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday charged with possession of two prohibited firearms and having ammunition without a firearm certificate, and spoke only to confirm his identity.
A plea hearing was set for July 18 and a provisional trial date was fixed for June 2 next year.
Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb told Natland he would be remanded in custody until his next hearing.
Scotland Yard has previously said that because of ongoing lines of inquiry, including a number of international inquiries, the investigation was being dealt with by detectives from Counter Terrorism Policing.
However, the case is not being treated as terrorist-related at this time, a spokesperson for the Met Police said.
The investigation is being supported by colleagues with North East Counter Terrorism Policing and West Yorkshire Police.