Felix the Cat
12-23-2005, 07:24 PM
Muslim planned revenge attack on hero soldier (http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/12/23/nrevenge23.xml)
A Muslim man who planned to "hunt down" and kill a soldier who had won the Military Cross in Iraq was yesterday found guilty of terrorism offences.
Abu Bakr Mansha from Thamesmead, south London, was found with a balaclava and a blank-firing pistol which was being converted for live rounds when his flat was raided by police.
Alongside inflammatory videos of rebels attacking troops in Iraq was a newspaper article describing the exploits of Cpl Mark Byles, who was later decorated with the Military Cross.
Police also found a piece of paper with Cpl Byles's former address on it and indentations on note paper requesting information on a rich Jewish man and the Hindu owner of a cash and carry business.
David Cocks, QC, prosecuting, told the jury at Southwark Crown Court, south London: "In their case, it is nothing to do with harm they may have done to the Muslim community. It was because of their religious beliefs."
Cpl Byles, of 1 Bn, Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, led a bayonet charge after his comrades were ambushed in Al Amarah in May last year. A paragraph in the article had been circled which said Cpl Byles "reckons he killed between 15 and 20 insurgents".
The article went on to describe him rifle-butting, punching and kicking rebels in hand-to-hand combat.
The court was told that the soldier was subsequently awarded the Military Cross for both "immense professionalism under fire" and bravery in leading an assault on an enemy position.
A number of DVDs were recovered from Mansha's flat which included Arabic chanting that called for Muslims to take part in jihad and martyrdom following the allied attack on the Iraqi city of Fallujah.
Some featured the al-Qa'eda leader Osama bin Laden, while one depicted the beheading of the British hostage Ken Bigley.
Mr Cocks said the material was "extremely distasteful and virulent", and clearly indicated the "nature of the interests of this defendant and other people who used that flat".
Mr Cocks said: "He had the piece of paper with Cpl Byles's information on in his possession either to kill him or to do him really serious injury to exact revenge for what the corporal had achieved in Iraq."
Mansha, 21, said most of the items found in his apartment were connected with research he was helping a journalist friend with.
He told jurors he was neither a strict Muslim nor had any strong political views and said he had bought the pistol for £25 from a market stall as a souvenir.
But the jury at Southwark Crown Court convicted him on a majority of 10 to two under the Terrorism Act which said the information in his possession was "likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism". Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith adjourned the case until Jan 26 for sentencing. Mansha could face up to 10 years in prison.
A Muslim man who planned to "hunt down" and kill a soldier who had won the Military Cross in Iraq was yesterday found guilty of terrorism offences.
Abu Bakr Mansha from Thamesmead, south London, was found with a balaclava and a blank-firing pistol which was being converted for live rounds when his flat was raided by police.
Alongside inflammatory videos of rebels attacking troops in Iraq was a newspaper article describing the exploits of Cpl Mark Byles, who was later decorated with the Military Cross.
Police also found a piece of paper with Cpl Byles's former address on it and indentations on note paper requesting information on a rich Jewish man and the Hindu owner of a cash and carry business.
David Cocks, QC, prosecuting, told the jury at Southwark Crown Court, south London: "In their case, it is nothing to do with harm they may have done to the Muslim community. It was because of their religious beliefs."
Cpl Byles, of 1 Bn, Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, led a bayonet charge after his comrades were ambushed in Al Amarah in May last year. A paragraph in the article had been circled which said Cpl Byles "reckons he killed between 15 and 20 insurgents".
The article went on to describe him rifle-butting, punching and kicking rebels in hand-to-hand combat.
The court was told that the soldier was subsequently awarded the Military Cross for both "immense professionalism under fire" and bravery in leading an assault on an enemy position.
A number of DVDs were recovered from Mansha's flat which included Arabic chanting that called for Muslims to take part in jihad and martyrdom following the allied attack on the Iraqi city of Fallujah.
Some featured the al-Qa'eda leader Osama bin Laden, while one depicted the beheading of the British hostage Ken Bigley.
Mr Cocks said the material was "extremely distasteful and virulent", and clearly indicated the "nature of the interests of this defendant and other people who used that flat".
Mr Cocks said: "He had the piece of paper with Cpl Byles's information on in his possession either to kill him or to do him really serious injury to exact revenge for what the corporal had achieved in Iraq."
Mansha, 21, said most of the items found in his apartment were connected with research he was helping a journalist friend with.
He told jurors he was neither a strict Muslim nor had any strong political views and said he had bought the pistol for £25 from a market stall as a souvenir.
But the jury at Southwark Crown Court convicted him on a majority of 10 to two under the Terrorism Act which said the information in his possession was "likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism". Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith adjourned the case until Jan 26 for sentencing. Mansha could face up to 10 years in prison.