The al-Qaeda magazine Inspire was a "how-to-do-terror manual", containing articles with titles such as "Qualities of an urban assassin" and "The convoy martyrs", a court has heard.
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A Supreme Court jury has been given details of the terrorist group's magazine during the trial of accused would-be fire bomber Adnan Karabegovic.
Mr Karabegovic, who was living in the Melbourne suburb of Officer at the time, has pleaded not guilty to possessing Inspire magazine No 9 (the 2012 Winter edition) "connected with assistance in a terrorist act".
The Crown claims Mr Karabegovic was planning to use the magazine to help him build a bomb to start a devastating bushfire in Australia as part of a violent jihad or holy war against the enemies of Islam.
Outlining the background to the Inspire magazine, Crown prosecutor Jeremy Rapke, QC, said al-Qaeda's Arabian Peninsula branch had been publishing the magazine four times a year since 2010 as part of its global terrorist activities.
Each Inspire magazine contained a section titled "Open Source Jihad" described by al-Qaeda as "a resource manual for those who loathe the tyrants, [which] includes bomb-making techniques, security measures, guerrilla tactics, weapons training and other Jihad-related activities."
The terrorist group claimed the Open Source Jihad section was "America's worst nightmare", allowing Muslims to train at home instead of risking having to travel overseas.
Mr Rapke said a great deal of material relating to the planning and execution of terrorist acts was contained in the Open Source Jihad section.
The prosecutor described how the Spring 2011 Inspire No 5 issue had had an article, "Training with the AK47" showing how to use a Kalashnikov assault rifle.
Another article, "What to expect in Jihad", discussed training camps for Mujahidin [fighters engaged in jihad], how they were conducted and what to expect from the training courses.
In the No 6 issue of Inspire, there was an article teaching the important shooting stances adopted by the Mujahidin when using AK47s.
It stressed the need for accuracy while shooting and concluded by saying it was hoped the information "benefited you and will help you better in fighting the enemies of Allah."
The cover page featured a large photograph of the Sydney Opera House.
Mr Rapke said there were instructions in the No 8 issue of Inspire on how to build and use a remote controlled detonator.
And he said in issue No 9, which Mr Karabegovic had downloaded on his computer, there was an article, "It is your freedom to ignite a fire bomb".
The article discussed the devastation caused by Australia's bushfires and how to cause similar destruction by igniting man-made fire bombs.
There were instructions on how to make a bomb, how to choose a target and how to ignite the bomb.
Another article, "Qualities of an urban assassin", discussed the role of individuals who wanted to take part in a jihad through a series of operations until they died as martyrs.
Adnan Karabegovic in the Magistrates Court during an earlier hearing.
Mr Rapke said that some time between July 16 and September 12, 2012, when Mr Karabegovic was arrested, the Inspire issues No 8 and 9 were either deleted or moved from his laptop computer.
The prosecutor said Mr Karabegovic and his friends had become concerned they were being monitored by ASIO and it was possible the authorities had infiltrated their group and planted a spy among them.
Defence barrister Julian McMahon said it was not a crime to have a copy of Inspire, to read it and talk about it.
Mr McMahon said it was a crime to use the magazine in connection with preparing a terrorist act, which Mr Karabegovic denied doing.
The trial, before Justice John Dixon, continues.
