no doubt about it, it will
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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. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #13 This guy's no Al Q operative, he's some wannabe dumbass who, as was mentioned above, saved from death at the hands of a brave and capable British soldier. I say put him in a room with the soldier and see how things turn out. I mean hell, let's give him what he was working so hard towards and see how many miliseconds it takes him to renounce Allan, Islam, and the whole shebang. Then produce a DVD of that for his buddies to sell at the local market. I'll order the first copy in advance. EP |
| Posted by: ElvisHasLeftTheBuilding 2005-12-23 16:40 |
| #12 This guy's got the beard and everything. I thought al Qaeda operatives were supposed to be pros who blend in with the population. Looks like the A-team died on 9/11. The rest are just the dregs. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2005-12-23 16:11 |
| #11 I think market trader means he has a stall selling stuff in a town centre. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2005-12-23 15:54 |
| #10 the phone book |
| Posted by: Jerelet Thineling2988 2005-12-23 13:48 |
| #9 "..he was found to have an address for Corporal Mark Byles.." how on earth did he get this information. I'm constantly told by my son that he can't tell me anything, what, where, etc., and I'm sure that this is one of the reasons so I accept it. How did they get this information on this man? To have troops think that terrorists will go after their families on the home front, well... |
| Posted by: Jan 2005-12-23 11:34 |
| #8 21 yr old market trader = guy that takes orders over the phone - loser |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-12-23 10:28 |
| #7 "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." no doubt about it, it will |
| Posted by: Lookie loo spemble 2005-12-23 09:48 |
| #6 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. I wonder who would... Abu Mansha, 21, was.. Well, THAT came as no surprise... |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2005-12-23 09:10 |
| #5 Morning LA! |
| Posted by: Leon Clavin 2005-12-23 08:58 |
| #4 Gotta start monitoring the activities of market traders. They are obviously a threat to public order. |
| Posted by: Elmuling Glolurt4915 2005-12-23 08:57 |
| #3 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, LOL! Old Abu Mansha just had the law save his life. |
| Posted by: Leon Clavin 2005-12-23 08:54 |
| #2 Just make sure you don't mess with any hate-spewing clerics,Judge.You might make them angry"You wouldn't like them when they're angry"(paraphrase). |
| Posted by: raptor 2005-12-23 08:54 |
| #1 To the tower with him. |
| Posted by: Thaising Angiter8278 2005-12-23 08:50 |