A man kept a vast library of terrorist instruction manuals on how to make bombs and suicide vests, the Old Bailey has heard.

Musse Yusuf (31) allegedly stored more than 200,000 files relating to topics ranging from waging guerilla war to fitness training for al-Qaeda recruits.

The titles included The Mujahideen Terrorist Handbook, Instructions on How to Attack Jewish People, The al-Qaeda Manual and Promoting Jihad.

Other material suggested support for the cause of al-Qaeda in Iraq and Afghanistan, a jury heard yesterday.

Yusuf, who is Somalian, was arrested by police at his home in Higgs Close, Crown Hills, Leicester, at 6am on May 28, 2008.

Two computer hard drives were discovered – one next to the fridge and a second wrapped inside a bin bag in the garage.

Prosecutor Max Hill said: "These two hard drives were found to contain very large quantities of material. They are terrorist videos and terrorist manuals or handbooks.

"The videos contain practical information on the making of suicide vests, improvised explosive devices or bombs and the manuals are entitled the Mujahideen Terrorist Handbook and the Mujahideen Explosives Handbook.

"Among this material was material that suggested support for the cause of al Qaeda in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"The Crown say this material contains wide-ranging instructions on how to carry out military activity through the use of bombs, guerilla warfare, firearms, improvised explosive devices among many others."

The jury was played parts of a 26-minute video showing a step-by-step guide on how to make a suicide vest. It ended with the vest being placed on a mannequin and exploded from a distance.

A second video demonstrated how to make a bomb using ball-bearings as shrapnel.

The 77-page Mujahideen Explosives Handbook boasted of providing "a course which teaches the easy production of explosives and poisons from easily available substances in enemy areas".

It included details of napalm bombs, Molotov cocktails and impact grenades.

Other files, found in a folder marked "Education", included a video produced by the "Mujahideen Army In Iraq".

Mr Hill said: "You may note a common theme – we suggest extremist views, sympathies with the case of Al-Qaeda and the concept of global jihad."

When Yusuf was first arrested he asked: "Is it the British or Swedish police who want me?

"In Sweden we were active with the Islamic Courts. My friends are in Sweden."

A Swedish passport was found at his home, the court heard.

Mr Hill said Yusuf faced trial on the basis that the material in his possession was likely to be useful to terrorists.

He said: "It is important to note at the outset that this case is not about what, if anything, Mr Yusuf was going to do with these items."

Yusuf denies four counts of possessing documents for terrorist purposes.

The trial continues.

Tweet