Terror trial begins for man accused in bomb plot

An artist's rendition of Said Namouh, whose trial for terrorism-related charges started Monday.

MONTREAL - The alleged computer handiwork of a Quebec man accused of disseminating terrorist propaganda and playing a part in an overseas bomb plot was put on display at the opening of his terrorism trial Monday.

Said Namouh, 36, is facing four terrorism-related charges including conspiracy, participating in a terrorist act, facilitating such an act and committing extortion for a terrorist group.

The Crown contends that Namouh is a member of the Global Islamic Media Front, an organization involved in propaganda and jihad recruitment and described as a media tool for al-Qaida.

They say Namouh put the final touches on some instructional and propaganda videos broadcast on the Internet.

An RCMP investigator itemizing hundreds of files found on Namouh's computer played three of the videos found on the hard drive.

Mike Sforza, an RCMP computer-crimes specialist, played two instructional videos put together by Namouh detailing how to transfer files to a website and a how-to video using a Global Islamic Media Front program to encrypt messages. The program is called "Mujahedeen Secrets."

The officer also displayed a video purportedly created by Namouh detailing the capture of three American soldiers in Iraq entitled "The Romans and Apostates Hell in Mesopotamia."

Crown prosecutor Dominique Dudemaine told court he will present a wide range of audio, video and chat transcripts from jihadist forums.

There will also be records of money transfers Namouh allegedly received from a suspect in Austria and an inventory of Namouh's computer.

Authorities claim the Moroccan native had ties to the Global Islamic Media Front, which was plotting terror attacks in Germany and Austria.

The Crown also alleges Namouh is responsible for publishing propaganda videos following the kidnapping of BBC journalist Alan Johnston in Gaza in March 2007 by a group known as the Army of Islam.

Dudemaine says his team will have to prove that both groups are terrorist organizations as neither appears on Canada's list of terrorist organizations -- but even so, there is a link between both groups and al-Qaida.

"All of this constitutes terrorist activities to create propaganda and recruitment for the benefit of al-Qaida," Dudemaine said.

Namouh is accused of conspiring with an Austrian man, Mohammed Mahmoud, described as a leader of the Global Islamic Media Front.

The initial charge against Namouh was to have conspired in 2007 "for the purpose of delivering, placing, discharging or detonating an explosive in a place outside Canada" with Mahmoud.

The terrorism charges were subsequently added.

Namouh, who has permanent residence status in Canada, has been detained since his arrest in Sept. 12, 2007, in Maskinonge, a small town northeast of Montreal.

He failed in a bid to secure bail last February.

Namouh, clean-shaven and dressed in a white shirt and jeans, listened intently as the case against him began to take shape.

The trial is expected to last several weeks.

If convicted, Namouh faces up to life in prison.

Defence lawyer Rene Duval said the case should be a complex one.

"The provisions that we are charged under have never really been tested in court," he said.

"It is largely a new law."