Court hears terror attack accused Artem Vasilyev found in possession of gun parts, explosives and extremist material

A man facing a terrorism trial is a Defence Department worker who 3D-printed gun parts and amassed chemicals with devastating properties, a court has heard.

An Australian Defence Department worker filled his mother’s home with 3D-printed gun parts, extremist materials and enough chemicals for 13 bombs capable of generating 2000C heat in his plan to stage a terror attack, a court has heard.

The Supreme Court has also heard electrical engineer Artem Vasilyev frequented white supremacist chat rooms, sharing gun-building and bomb-making instructions under the username “Panzer and Grettel”.

Jurors were told he gathered “siege masks” and abseiling gear to attack an Adelaide Hills power station in the name of “white nationalism” – an accusation his counsel rejected.

Scott Henchliffe KC, for Mr Vasilyev, urged jurors to keep an open mind until the conclusion of the planned four-week trial.

“You only need to read the charge for the inherent absurdity in it to be apparent … how could anyone think such an attack would advance such a cause?” he said.

Artem Vasilyev is charged with terror offences and manufacturing more than a dozen firearms at his Findon home. Picture: University of Adelaide.

“Mr Vasilyev denies he did any act for the purpose of planning an attack … he had no such intention … the evidence does not prove anything he did was done for that purpose.

“Therefore, he is innocent of the charge.”

Mr Vasilyev, 27, of Findon, has pleaded not guilty to one count of committing other acts done in preparation for, or planning, a terrorist act.

Prosecutor Justin Hannebury KC has previously alleged Mr Vasilyev conducted digital reconnaissance of, and researched methods to, destroy the Cherry Gardens electrical substation.

He also alleged Mr Vasilyev obtained explosive substances and manufactured firearms, and looked into methods of “avoiding being discovered”.

Those acts were, he alleged, part of a plan to commit a terrorist act with the goal of advancing the cause of white nationalism.

Continuing his opening address on Thursday, Mr Hannebury said the case revolved around two searches of the Findon home Mr Vasilyev shared with his mother.

At that time, he said, Mr Vasilyev worked at the Defence Science and Technology Group analysing radio frequencies, and had “no role” in terrorism-related research.

During the first search, in August 2021, SA Police located parts for more than a dozen 3D-printed improvised firearms called “FGCs” - an abbreviation for “f*** gun control”.

They also found ammunition suitable for those guns, the printer used to make them, and PDF instruction manuals.

“Mr Vasilyev was interviewed … he said the plans had been sent to him and he had ‘made some of them’ (the guns),” he said.

“He said he thought he was making (something) that shows how things interconnect.”

Mr Hannebury said police also searched Mr Vasilyev’s PC, through which he was conducting 11 different encrypted chats under the username “Panzer and Grettel”.

Many of those, he said, were focused upon the manufacture of guns and explosives.

Mr Vasilyev’s phone, he said, contained “a montage” of the 2019 Christchurch terror attack, while his laptop boasted files about military tactics and right-wing, anti-Semitic and neo-Nazi material.

Mr Hannebury said SA Police returned to Mr Vasilyev’s home, accompanied by Australian Federal Police, the following month.

“They found ammunition, pistol holders, magazine components and four black skull face covers, commonly referred to as ‘siege masks’,” he said.

“Those masks are closely associated with white nationalism and anti-government movements.”

He said police also found two boxes of ammonium nitrate – a substance which, at greater than 45 per cent purity, was explosive.

“Each of the boxes contained ammonium nitrate that was 40 to 60 per cent pure,” he said.

“Police seized 5kg of aluminium powder from the shed, which is highly flammable and, when mixed with ammonium nitrate, explosive.

“The quantity seized could make an explosive charge that would almost certainly result in the death of a human being within 1m of that explosion.”

Mr Hannebury said Mr Vasilyev was also in possession of abseiling gear, grappling hooks and 14kg of red iron oxide.

He said that was enough oxide, if mixed with the ammonium nitrate, to make 13 thermite bombs that “could generate heat in excess of 2000C”.

On Mr Vasilyev’s digital devices, he said, police found material on “creating new identities” and “how to disappear”, as well as Google searches about the substation and how electrical transformers function.

They also found further extremist material and conversations had, by Mr Vasilyev, on chat forums including The Aryan Front and The Insane Clown Posse.

Other online searches made, he said, included “thermite launcher”, “DIY mustard gas and graphite bombs”, “CIA improvised sabotage attacks”, “how to minimise your digital footprint” and “how to disappear”.

“Mr Vasilyev was interviewed … he said he had a professional and personal interest in cyber security,” he said.

“He said he enjoyed hiking and camping but had no way of disappearing and merely found it interesting, especially during Covid.

“He said he had an interest in ‘homesteading’ and ‘living off the grid’, and described himself politically as a ‘libertarian’.”

Mr Henchliffe told jurors his client denied the allegations but did not dispute he had an interest in firearms.

“He had a firearms licence and three registered firearms in his home … that’s important context for the whole of the evidence you will hear,” he said.

“The evidence, when viewed through certain context, may be different than if that context was not put before it.”

The trial continues.