Electronic devices found at the home of a man accused of terrorism offences contained documents on “homemade firearms” and “explosives”, a court heard.
Charles Bruce told a jury on Monday how Police Scotland officers examined computers and portable storage devices following the arrest of 29-year-old Richard Smith.
Smith is on trial at the High Court in Edinburgh and is alleged to have had homemade explosives at his flat on Aberdeen’s King Street.
He’s also alleged to have possessed guides for how to make explosive devices along with anti-Muslim and neo-Nazi documents.
The court heard Mr Bruce, who works for the force’s cybercrime unit, say the electronic searches were made during the investigation into Smith’s alleged activities.
Jurors heard how officers found PDF files on the devices with titles like ‘Expedient Homemade Firearms’ and ‘Semtex – Homemade Semtex C4’s Ugly Sister’ and ‘US Military Explosives Research’.
They also discovered a PDF file called ‘Assorted Nasties Poisons’ and another one called ‘ATF letter and package bomb detection techniques’.
A device examined during the probe also revealed another PDF file called ‘CIA Sabotage Explosives’ and another one called ‘CIA Explosives Manual’.
Another PDF was also called ‘CIA Lock Picking (Field Operative Training Manual).
Mr Bruce told prosecutor Liam Ewing QC that officers found a “substantial” amount of information on the devices.
‘Being a bit odd isn’t a crime, is it?’
He said: “There was such a substantial amount of data that came off the devices. I’d estimate there were about three to four million individual items.’
During proceedings on Monday, the jury heard how police officers also interviewed Smith about how he kept chemicals at his home in Aberdeen.
Defence advocate Ronnie Renucci QC asked one of the officers who interviewed Smith – DC Wilma Ritchie – about what his client said during the interview.
The jury heard that some of the chemicals found at Mr Smith’s home were “readily available” on retail websites.
Mr Renucci said: “He had bought chemicals from Amazon and eBay that were readily available on those two sites – weren’t they?”
DC Ritchie replied: “Yes.”
The jury heard also heard that Mr Smith told DC Ritchie during the interview that he liked “geeky things”.
Mr Renucci asked DC Ritchie: “He says he just like geeky things?”
DC Ritchie replied: “Yes he did.”
Mr Renucci also asked: “He talked about geeky things. There are some people who would appear to be geeky or may appear to be somewhat odd to other people aren’t there?”
DC Ritchie replied: “Yes.”
Mr Renucci then asked: “But being a bit odd isn’t a crime, is it?”
DC Ritchie then replied: “No, not at all.”
Accused denies all charges
At the start of proceedings last week, jurors who are observing proceedings from a cinema, were read the contents of a legal document detailing the charges against Mr Smith.
Prosecutors claim that these were “namely homemade explosive substances” and powders and chemicals, which could be used to make explosive substances.
It’s alleged that the substances could “cause or aid in causing an explosion,” and that it could give rise to “a reasonable suspicion” that he didn’t have the substances in his possession for a “lawful object”.
In relation to this charge, the Crown claims that Smith breached the Explosive Substances Act 1883.
The second charge alleges that between August 9 in 2018 and November 13 in 2019 at various locations in Scotland, Smith collected or made a “record of information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism”.
It’s alleged that he had “a quantity of texts, manuals, booklets, leaflets, videos and other guides” relating to the “manufacture of explosive substances, improvised detonators and improvised explosive devices” and the “manufacture of chemical and biological agents”.
Prosecutors also claim he had information about “the manufacture and use of firearms and other weaponry” and “the practice of guerrilla warfare, paramilitary survival, combat and resistance techniques”.
It’s also claimed he had information which promoted “anti-Muslim, neo-Nazi and other racist causes” and that he created, downloaded “computer files”, “video files” and “picture files” on IT devices and CD and DVD discs and that this breached the Terrorism Act 2000.
The third charge alleges that between August 9 2018 and November 13 2019 at locations in Aberdeen, Smith possessed “a quantity of materials capable of being used in the manufacture of explosive substances” and possessed “a quantity of materials capable of causing or aiding an explosion.”
It’s also alleged that he created and possessed “texts, manuals, booklets, leaflets, videos and other guides” relating to the manufacture of explosive substances improvised detonators and improvised explosive devices.
Alleged to have anti-Muslim and neo-Nazi information
Prosecutors also say he had information about the use of “chemical and biological agents” as weapons; guerrilla warfare and survival techniques.
He is also said to have had information about “the operation and manufacture of firearms and other weaponry”, “paramilitary survival and resistance” and “combat techniques” as well as information “advancing anti-Muslim, neo-Nazi and other racist causes.”
Prosecutors say he also conducted online research into the “manufacture of explosive substances, improvised detonators and improvised explosive devices”; and that he possessed a quantity of military-style clothing and weapons – and that this was Contrary to the Terrorism Act 2006 section 5 (1a).
Between October 10 2019 and November 13 2019 at locations in Aberdeen, Smith is alleged to have possessed without “having a licence”, sulphuric acid and nitric acid.
He also allegedly possessed “barium nitrate” and prosecutors say this breached the Poisons Act 1972.
The final charge alleges that on November 4 2019 at Kittybrewster Police Office in Aberdeeen, Smith assaulted Detective Sergeant Bruce Buntain by pushing him on the body.
Smith, of King Street, Aberdeen, has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The trial, before judge Lord Mulholland, continues on Tuesday.
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