SA Supreme Court jury shown video, photos, of guns and items seized from home of alleged terror suspect Artem Vasilyev

Jurors have been taken inside the home of a Defence worker accused of plotting a terror attack – where he described the shock findings inside as “cool”.

A Defence Department worker accused of plotting a terrorist act told police he had 3D-printed parts for a dozen guns as “toys” and “cool models” for “role-playing”, a court has heard.

The Supreme Court has also heard Artem Vasilyev denied he had any intention of building a “functional” gun – but had pleaded guilty, prior to trial, to 22 firearms offences.

On Friday, the 14 jurors in Mr Vasilyev’s trial watched SA Police footage of a search of Mr Vasilyev’s home, and his subsequent arrest, on August 20, 2021.

The footage depicts two detectives moving through the home, noting 3D-printed firearm parts including receivers and triggers, as well as Mr Vasilyev’s licenced, registered rifle.

“It was not my intention to make functional firearms … I was trying to make sue that it would not be operational, I was trying to make sure they would not be functional,” he tells them.

“This was just a toy, essentially, just a model … I never realised that it would be a working firearm … it was a DIY project.

“I thought it would just be a cool model or something, like gel blasters and stuff … it’s basically for role-playing purposes.”

Asked what he means, Mr Vasilyev replies: “just having a bit of fun, I don’t know, playing and stuff in the confines of my home – I never intended to take any of this stuff outside.”

Artem Vasilyev in the video shot by police in his home.

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.

Prosecutors have alleged he conducted digital reconnaissance of, and researched methods to, destroy the Cherry Gardens electrical substation.

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

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

In the video played in court on Friday, Mr Vasilyev is asked about his collection of survivalist books, which he says had been “recommended by a friend”.

“I’ve not read all of them, I didn’t really get far (into them), I think they are more for Americans,” he said.

The Defence Department worker accused of plotting a terrorist act told police he had 3D-printed parts for a dozen guns as “toys” and “cool models” for “roleplaying”, a court has heard.

His stockpile of canned food, he says, was a result of Covid lockdowns and while his abseiling gear arose from his mother’s birthday gift of a climbing session.

Multiple skull-faced masks found by detectives were, he says, also purchased because of the pandemic.

Ms Vasilyev explains that he was born in Russia, but does not possess a passport for that country nor for Australia.

“I can’t escape either way, the laws being what they are,” he says.

He discusses his work at the Defence Science and Technology Group with the detectives, who comment upon his framed university degree.

“I almost feel proud, if it were under better circumstances, you taking an interest in me like this,” he says.

After the video was shown, Scott Hencliffe KC, for Mr Vasilyev, told jurors his client “has already pleaded guilty to 22 offences over the firearms taken” by police.

The trial, before Justice Sandi McDonald, continues.