Al Qaeda Magazines Found On Aberdeen Terror Accused's Hard Drive
Terrorist organisation Al Qaeda produced online magazines found on an external hard drive when police raided a medical student's flat, a counter terrorism expert told a court yesterday.
Dr Matthew Levitt of the Washington Institute, who formerly worked for the FBI, was giving evidence at the trial of Yousif Badri, 29, who denies three terrorism charges.
The High Court in Glasgow has heard that Badri was arrested on June 6, 2013, and his flat at Ashgrove Road, Aberdeen, was searched.
A number of items were found on his hard drive including 10 copies of an online glossy magazine called Inspire.
Dr Levitt said: "Inspire is a glossy magazine , but instead of being about sports or fashion it is about Al Qaeda's philosophy. Articles include how to use a gun and how to make a bomb in your kitchen. How to make a pressure cooker bomb."
The jury was told that the magazine was online and free and Dr Levitt added: "It was free to get as wide a circulation as possible. It was produced by Al Qaeda."
Dr Levitt said that around a dozen issues were released. The court has heard that 10 issues were found on the hard drive seized from Badri's flat.
He was asked by advocate depute Richard Goddard: "Who were the target audience of the magazine Inspire," and Dr Levitt replied: "The target was an English speaking Western audience. It was written in English that was accesible to a Western audience."
Dr Levitt was then asked if it featured articles by different writers and said that one of the contributors was Osama Bib Laden.
He was asked where material like the magazines and videos found on the hard drive, which included two soldiers being murdered and snipers killing military personnel, and said: "A while back this was primarily through closed websites, but as technology has developed it has beome easier and easier to access this material. You will soetimes find these videos of Youtube."
Dr Levitt is still giving evidence and will be cross-examined by defence QC Murdo Macleod today (Fri).
Badri faces a number of allegations including an accusation he was involved in conduct "with the intention of committing acts of terrorism".
The offences are said to have been carried out at two places in Aberdeen -Badri's former flat in Ashgrove Road and in Berryden Retail Park.
Badri's current address in Halifax, West Yorkshire, also features in the alleged offences.
Prosecutors claim that between 2007 and 2013 Badri collected or made a record of information likely to be useful to a person "committing or preparing an act of terrorism". This allegedly included footage of terror attacks as well as instructions on "urban assassinations" and "guerrilla tactics".
The second charge alleges that Badri "with the intention of committing acts of terrorism" engaged in various actions between 2006 and 2013.
Accusations listed in the indictment include a claim he had an "equipment list" for attending a terrorist training camp in Afghanistan.
He is also said to have possessed "advice for those involved in conducting terrorist attack planning operations".
The charge further states that he had documents, recordings and files containing "extreme ideology".
The final accusation claims that on April 16 last year Badri posted on Twitter the phrase: "Whoever feels safe from punishment, misbehaves".
The comment is said to have come from a copy of the Inspire magazine - described as being published by the "propaganda wing" of Al-Qaeda.
Badri denies all the charges against him.
The trial before judge Lord Turnbull continues.