MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia's biggest terrorism trial started on Wednesday, with 12 Muslim men appearing in court charged with being members of an unnamed terrorist organisation planning violent jihad in Australia.
The 12 men faced charges of preparing to use explosives orweapons for an undisclosed terrorist act, with the intention ofcoercing a government or intimidating the public, said thecharge sheet in the Victoria state Supreme Court.
"The action or threat of action was to be done orthreatened with the intention of advancing a political,religious or ideological cause, namely the pursuit of violentjihad," it said.
The group's spiritual leader, who praised al Qaeda leaderOsama bin Laden as a "great man", had told the men that killingwomen and children was permissible, said the prosecutor.
Spiritual leader Abdul Nacer Benbrika, 47, said in tapedtelephone calls with another man that a bombing where themaximum loss of life could be inflicted, such as at footballground, was a suitable suggestion, said prosecutor RichardMaidment.
Maidment said that Benbrika had taught the group that itwas "permissible to kill women, children and the aged",Australian Associated Press reported from the court.
"The organisation was exclusively male and exclusivelyMuslim. Benbrika was its director and the leader of thatgroup," Maidment told the court, which was under heightenedsecurity.
Maidment said Benbrika was also heard in a conversationsaying that al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was a "great man".
But Maidment warned the jury that Islam was not on trialand that Benbrika's views did not reflect the true views ofMuslims or of any other religious group.
The 12 charged are: Abdul Nacer Benbrika, Fadl Sayadi,Ahmed Raad, Aimen Joud, Abdullah Merhi, Amer Haddara, ShaneKent, Majed Raad, Hany Taha, Shoue Hammoud, Bassam Raad andEzzit Raad.
All have pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor told the court that each member of the grouphad particular skills, with one receiving paramilitarytraining, which included demolitions using explosives, at anoverseas camp.
Maidment said that during a conversation with an undercoverpolice officer who infiltrated the group, Benbrika asked if hecould be shown how to make explosives using ammonium nitrate.
The undercover officer had told Benbrika he was an expertin removing tree stumps using explosives. "(Benbrika) asked howmuch was required to destroy a house. Benbrika then asked howmuch to destroy a larger building," said Maidment.
Benbrika also asked how to obtain up to 500 kg (1,100 lb)of ammonium nitrate and how much it would cost, he said.
The prosecutor said police seized material, includingliterature on how to make bombs and video tapes with messagesfrom Osama bin Laden.
More than 25 barristers and solicitors are representing the12 men at the trial, which is expected to go for nine months.
(Reporting by Michael Perry, editing by Bill Tarrant)
