Terror plot accused 'relentless, obsessive', jury told

Artem Vasiljev is on trial accused of plotting to blow up an Adelaide electrical substation. (Supplied by Supreme Court of South Australia/AAP PHOTOS)

An alleged white nationalist was relentless and obsessive in compiling racist material as part of an alleged plot to blow up an Adelaide electrical substation, a court has been told.

Artem Vasilyev, 27, is facing trial accused of committing other acts done in preparation for, or planning, a terrorist act between July 22, 2020 and September 28, 2021.

In his closing address on Thursday, prosecutor Justin Hannebery KC said the jury needed to look at the evidence in its entirety, which established seven core propositions that were unarguable. 

Videos recorded during searches of Vasilyev's home were played to the jury in the trial.

"Mr Vasliyev was an adherent to a political ideology that had the promotion of white nationalism as its goal ... through force and terror," he told the Supreme Court.

He said the accused engaged in digital investigation of electrical systems and their vulnerabilities, researched firearms and explosives, researched how to disappear and avoid detection, possessed a substantial volume of potentially explosive material, obtained and manufactured firearms, and focused Google Maps searches on the Cherry Gardens substation in the Adelaide Hills.

"And when you put those together, the only reasonable explanation is what the prosecution contends: which is that Mr Vasilyev was undertaking acts for a terrorist act," Mr Hannebery said.  

The trial has been told that extremist material, a 3D-printed gun and chemicals used in explosive and incendiary devices were found in the home of the former Defence electrical engineer during two police raids in 2021. 

"The fact that we've been here more than three weeks and we've really only had time to show you a tiny portion of this material reveals to you that Mr Vasliyev was relentless and obsessive in compiling this volume of material," Mr Hannebery said.    

"The volume and nature of the extremist material located on Mr Vasilyev's devices is utterly inconsistent with his claim in his interview that he is a live-and-let-live libertarian." 

The prosecutor said the intended act was designed to cause serious damage and put the public at serious risk from the electrical  disruption that Vasilyev hoped it would cause.

"It was a plan he hoped would promote chaos and serve the interests of his vision for societal collapse and progress towards a white nationalist state," he said.   

Videos recorded during searches of Vasilyev's home were played to the jury earlier in the trial.

The defence will deliver its closing address on Friday.

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