A teenager from Manor Park has been found guilty of preparing a terror plot in which he groomed and encouraged a vulnerable man to carry out a Lee Rigby style attack.

From October 2013, Kazi Islam, 18, of Meanley Road, tried to convince a 19-year-old male friend to get involved in making a pipe bomb in a bid carry out an attack on members of the armed forces - similar to the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby in May 2013.

Islam was found guilty of preparing to commit acts of terrorism contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006, today, at the Old Bailey.

Commander Richard Walton, Head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command (SO15) said: “Islam groomed and bullied a vulnerable man to try and get him to make a bomb or attack soldiers.

“We were able to intervene early on this occasion and prevent what we believe would have been an act of terrorism in the UK.”

During an investigation, officers seized several phones and computers.

They found evidence of various conversations between Islam and the 19-year-old talking about items needed to make pipe bombs and other explosive devices, with Islam trying to both encourage and bully him into purchasing the items on his behalf.

During some of their conversations Islam even tried to cover up what he was talking about, referring to ‘ingredients’ he needed to make a ‘cake’.

However, later in the same converasation he confirmed he was actually talking about making a bomb when his friend asked him.

Commander Richard Walton, added: “We continue to appeal to anyone who may have knowledge of people with similar intentions. The earliest we can intervene to prevent terrorism the better.

“We also remind the public that there is currently a need to protect vulnerable or impressionable adults or children from this brand of Islamic extremism.”

Islam is due to be sentenced at a later date.