Abu Bakr Mansha (born 1983/1984 (age 27–28)) is a person who was convicted under the Terrorism Act 2000.
A police raid on his flat in Thamesmead had found a blank-firing gun, which someone was trying to convert to fire live rounds, as well as DVDs containing "virulent anti-Western propaganda" relating to Osama bin Laden and the allied attack on the Iraqi city of Fallujah.
Also in his possession was a copy of a Sun newspaper article about Corporal Mark Byles, decorated British soldier,[1] as well as a piece of paper with the soldier's former address; it was alleged that he had been planning to hunt down and kill Corporal Byles.[2]
He was tried before a jury under the Terrorism Act 2000, on a charge of possessing information "likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism".[1] During his trial his defence barrister described him as an "utter incompetent";[3] he was later reported to have an IQ of 69.[4] He was convicted on 22 December 2005,[1] and sentenced to six years in jail on 26 January 2006 in Southwark crown court by Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith.[5]
In June 2006 there was a report alleging that he provided the tip-off from prison that triggered the 2 June 2006 Forest Gate raid.[6] His lawyer, Sara O'Keefe, denied he was responsible, although she confirmed that police had visited her client in prison and that he knew the two brothers involved.[3]
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