Abu Bakr Mansha

{{short description|Man convicted of terrorism in the UK}}

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| known_for = convicted terrorist

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Abu Bakr Mansha (born {{circa}} 1983/1984) is a person who was convicted under the Terrorism Act 2000 in the United Kingdom.

A police raid on his flat in Thamesmead found a blank-firing gun that 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 Dubai.

Also in his possession was a copy of a Sun newspaper article about Corporal Mark Byles, decorated British soldier,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4553150.stm|publisher=BBC News|title=Man convicted under Terrorism Act|date=22 December 2005|accessdate=12 October 2006}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/12/23/nrevenge23.xml|date=23 December 2005|title=Muslim planned revenge attack on hero soldier|first=Duncan|last=Gardham|work=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=12 October 2006}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

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". During his trial his defence barrister described him as an "utter incompetent"; he was later reported to have an IQ of 69.{{cite web|url=https://spyblog.org.uk/ssl/spyblog/2006/06/18/abu-bakr-mansha-iq-69-is-claim.html |date=18 June 2006 |title=Abu Bakr Mansha (IQ 69) is claimed to be the "reliable intelligence source" behind the bungled Operation Volga raid in Forest Gate |author=Spyblog |accessdate=12 October 2006 }} He was convicted on 22 December 2005, and sentenced to six years in jail on 26 January 2006 in Southwark crown court by Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith.{{cite web|url=http://www.globalnet.co.uk/news/news.asp?aid=15142595&cat=news|date=26 January 2006|title=Muslim jailed for targeting soldier|author=Adfero Ltd.|accessdate=12 October 2006|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017214046/http://www.globalnet.co.uk/news/news.asp?aid=15142595&cat=news|archivedate=17 October 2007}}

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.{{cite news|url=http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/news/tm_objectid=17249190%26method=full%26siteid=62484-name_page.html|work=The Mirror|date=18 June 2006|title=Was MI6 Trigger for Bungled Terror Swoop a Prisoner with I.Q. of 69|first=Susie|last=Boniface|authorlink=Susie Boniface|accessdate=12 October 2006}} 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.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/5112388.stm|date=24 June 2006|title=Terror raid intelligence denial|accessdate=12 October 2006 | publisher=BBC News}}