MI5 source was educationally sub normal prisoner on trumped up terror charge

Abu Bakr Mansha, 22 former market stall holder and pizza bar waiter (and schildhood friend of the Landsdowne Two) was arrested on 24th March 2005 at his home in Arnott Close, Thamesmead. 5 days later he was charged at Bow Street magistrates under s.58 (1b) Terrorism Act.

It was alleged he "possessed a document, namely a piece of paper, containing the name and home address of a UK soldier - information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism". This is believed to be Corporal Mark Byles, a soldier who had led a charge on Iraqi rebels that left around 20 insurgents dead, and earned him a Military Cross the court was told by David Cocks QC prosecuting. (The Guradian)

The court was also 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.Although the identity or even existence of these people was never presented in evidence.

In the Southwark crown court on 23rd December 2005, Abu Mansha was found guilty of the charge .

The Prosecution alleged that in killing a corporal decorated for actions in Iraq, Mansha believed this would intimidate the British public and British troops. For some extraordinary reason Byles gave evidence (from behind a screen) detailing the attack which resulted in his award for bravery.

The Guardian (23rd December 2005) reported that he was found in possession of DVDs 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. (Ownership of such material is not illegal)

Peter Clarke the dumb head of Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist branch said, "Abu Mansha researched the details of several people. Put this together with other material, and it is obvious that he was involved in terrorist targeting".

Items found in Mansha's flat included a poem that described George Bush and Tony Blair as "dirty pigs" and a blank firing gun "that was in the process of being converted to shoot live rounds".

Mansha stated that the pistol was a souvenir. On 26th January 2006, Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith sentenced Abu Mansha to six years, adding that she had no doubt "others must have played a significant part" in the plot to target the corporal.

Jeremy Carter-Manning QC, defending Mansha, described him as an "utter incompetent, young and inadequate". He said Mansha was educationally sub-normal (He had an IQ of 69)and "was not in the real business of terrorism".

Soon after his imprisonment Mansha was visited by friends of brothers Abul Kahar, 23, and Abul Koyair, 20, at top-security Belmarsh, South-East London.

The Sunday Mirror today claims it has learned, that this visit sparked a surveillance operation on the men by the security services. According to a friend of the brothers, they laughed at constantly being followed. Our source said: "It was so obvious we treated it as a joke."

Then new information came through, said to include detailed drawings of a suicide vest.

That led to Operation Volga - the botched police operation to arrest the brothers, which led to Kahar being shot. Apparently the surveillance was evident and known in the area. Children were knocking on car windows asking officers who they were watching. If the btothers were terrorists, they had plenty of warning.

Friends of the men believe Mansha was the trigger for the extraordinary operation.

Mansha's lawyer Sara O'Keefe revealed how her client was moved just before the raid from high-security category 'A' Belmarsh to a softer category 'B' jail. She did not know why he got the favourable treatment, or whether he unwittingly helped MI5. Told that the brothers knew they were being followed she said: "That sounds about right."

Police and intelligence officials claim the information that triggered the raid was from a reliable single source who knew the brothers and whom the security services had dealt with before.

If this is terrism, I think we can live with it. Can we put up with the crass stupidity of Peter Clarke and his Keystone Kops ?