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British Muslim Jailed for Plotting to Kill Iraq Hero

2006-01-28

A MUSLIM who plotted to hunt down and kill a soldier who was awarded the Military Cross for bravery under fire in Iraq was jailed for six years yesterday. Abu Mansha, 21, drew up his plan after reading a newspaper report that Corporal Mark Byles, of The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, had been awarded one of the Army's highest honours after leading a bayonet charge in which three Iraqi rebels died. In the article, Corporal Byles stated that he had killed as many as twenty insurgents during his six-month tour of duty. When police searched Abu Mansha's flat in Thamesmead, southeast London, they found a blank-firing gun in the process of being converted to shoot live rounds, a balaclava with eye-holes cut out and a newspaper cutting detailing the soldier's exploits. DVDs featuring "virulent anti-Western propaganda" were also recovered, Southwark Crown Court was told. Some featured Osama bin Laden and another depicted the beheading of the British hostage Kenneth Bigley. A poem that the defendant had written describing George Bush and Tony Blair as "dirty pigs" was also found. Abu Mansha, the British-born son of a Pakistani-born travel agent, had also researched the personal details of two businessmen, one a Hindu and the other a Jew. The market stallholder was convicted last month under the Terrorism Act of possessing information "likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism". He remained impassive as Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith said: "The information found in his possession included Corporal Byles's past address. That information was in your handwriting, as was a request by you -- and I underline that -- for information about prominent members of the Jewish and Hindu communities. The jury rejected your claims that these were just journalistic inquiries. The maximum sentence for this offence is ten years' imprisonment. You have never faced a charge for conspiracy to kill or cause harm and I do not sentence you for that, but when that information came into your possession and was recorded by you, you crossed the boundary into terrorism." Abu Mansha has a previous conviction for affray as the result of a racial confrontation with another market stallholder three years ago.

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Britain

Market trader found guilty of planning to kill UK soldier

2005-12-23

A market trader who plotted to "hunt down" and kill a British soldier decorated for bravery in Iraq was yesterday convicted under the Terrorism Act. Abu Mansha, 21, was found guilty at Southwark crown court of possessing information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism. When he was arrested last March he was found to have an address for Corporal Mark Byles, a soldier who had led a charge on Iraqi rebels that left around 20 insurgents dead, the court heard. Police raided his flat and found a replica gun along with anti-western DVDs. During the two-week trial, the jury of seven women and five men heard from David Cocks QC, prosecuting, that Mansha believed that killing the war hero would intimidate the British public and British troops, so advancing the radical Islamic cause. Cpl Byles led a charge on Iraqi rebels in May 2004. His bravery and professionalism in the assault earned him a Military Cross. Newspaper reports described the corporal's feats in battle and reported him as saying: "It was either them or me." The story described him rifle-butting, punching and kicking Iraqi rebels in hand-to-hand combat. Cpl Byles gave evidence in the trial, describing the fight in Al Amarah that was to fuel Mansha's desire for revenge. From behind a screen, Cpl Byles told the jury: "I had two choices: stay there and be cut to pieces or put down concentrated fire and attack the positions, which is what I did. There were a number of gunmen. Some were pointing weapons at me. "I had to identify those that posed the greatest threat to me. I had to neutralise the gunmen. Myself and my team captured about eight gunmen and killed about 20 officially and 16 unofficially." Anti-terrorist and firearms officers arrested Mansha in March last year. His fingerprints were found on the newspaper article about Cpl Byles, but he said most of the items found in his flat were for research purposes only. He said he was helping a journalist friend. At his flat in south-east London the market stall holder also had in his possession "extremely distasteful and virulent" anti-western DVDs, the court heard. These featured Osama bin Laden, the beheading of British hostage Ken Bigley, Iraqi rebels attacking allied troops, and calls for Muslims to take part in a holy war following the allied attack on the city of Fallujah. Other items found at the flat included a poem that described George Bush and Tony Blair as "dirty pigs", a blank firing gun that was in the process of being converted to shoot live rounds, and newspaper cuttings about Cpl Byles. Mr Cocks told the court: "Looked at in the context of what else was in the flat, he had the piece of paper with Cpl Byles' information on in his possession either to kill him or to do him really serious injury to exact revenge, no doubt with other people, for what the corporal had achieved in Iraq. We say he was targeted for political purposes." Mansha denied being a terrorist, and said that he was neither a strict Muslim nor political. He said the pistol was a souvenir. As the trial unfolded, jurors were told indentations on note paper revealed Mansha had also made "chilling" requests for information on a rich Jewish man and the Hindu owner of a cash and carry business. Mr Cocks added: "It is plain that they were also being targeted. 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." Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith said that Mansha had been found guilty of a "serious and unusual offence". He adjourned the case until January 26, saying he needed a pre-sentence report before dealing with Mansha, who remains in custody. Peter Clarke, of Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist branch, said: "Abu Mansha researched the details of several people. Put this together with the other material, and it is obvious that he was involved in terrorist targeting. "I hope that Mansha's conviction sends out a strong message that we will take firm action to stop terrorism even if it is only at the planning stages. That is how we protect the public from people like Mansha." The Ministry of Defence gave no official reaction to today's verdict. But a spokesman said: "The MoD takes welfare of its personnel very seriously and security is kept constantly under review." The spokesman said Cpl Byles would not be commenting on the outcome of the case.

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