A man accused of committing terrorism offences had thousands of documents downloaded from the internet detailing military techniques on computer equipment, a court heard yesterday.
Forensic computing expert James Borwick, 53, told jurors on Monday that he found 22,000 manuals on armed forces tactics on devices belonging to 25-year-old Connor Ward.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard how the information related to survival methods used by the US Army and US Navy.
The court also heard how Mr Borwick claims to have found downloads on firearms called AK47 Assault Rifle Operator Manual, Draganov 7.62mm SVD.pdf and Army Sniper Training Employment.pdf.
Mr Borwick, of East Lothian, was giving evidence on the fourth day of proceedings against Mr Ward, of Banff, Aberdeenshire.
Ward denies two charges of breaching the Terrorism Act 2000 and the Terrorism Act 2006.
The court had earlier heard how the police had asked Mr Borthwick in July 2016 to examine a USB stick and a computer which had been registered to a man called Connor Ward.
The jury was shown records of material found on the equipment, including 1,900 manuals on firearms.
Prosecutors allege that between February 26 2011 and November 21 2014, at 2 Whinhill Crescent and 9 Water Path, in Banff, Aberdeenshire, Ward did “with the intention of committing acts of terrorism, engage in conduct in
preparation of said acts.”
It is alleged that Ward created and possessed a quantity of neo-Nazi, anti-Muslim, anti-Jewish and other “racist or violent” texts, images, videos, flags, spoken word and music audio files.
Ward also allegedly created and possessed a quantity of texts, manuals and other guides relating to “survival techniques, the operation and manufacture of firearms and other weapons” and “paramilitary survival and resistance combat techniques.”
It’s claimed that some of these texts included instructions for the manufacture of “explosive materials and improvised explosive devices” as well as instructions for the production and use of chemical and biological poisons.
Ward also allegedly possessed knives, metal bars and a stun gun.
The second charge alleges that between February 26 2011 and November 21 2014, at 2 Whinhill Crescent and 9 Water Path, both Banff, Ward did “collect or make a record of information of a kind likely be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.”
Ward has pleaded not guilty to the two charges.
The trial, before judge Lord Burns, continues.
