A TERRORIST manual on holy war that lists Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty as bombing targets was found in Abu Hamza’s house, the Old Bailey was told. The Encyclopaedia of the Afghani Jihad also recommends terrorist attacks on skyscrapers, football stadiums, airports and nuclear power stations for maximum loss of life.

Chapters of the document are dedicated to Osama bin Laden, the Pakistan Government and to terrorists who died for their cause. Written between 1989 and 1999, the ten volumes give information on security and intelligence, handguns, first aid, explosives, topography and weapons.

Headings include “The need to study the principles of war” and “The duty of assassination and kidnap”. Other subheadings give advice on reconnaisance, infiltration, ambush and how to manufacture explosive devices, open locks and train assassins.

One chapter has a step-by-step guide on how to manufacture a homemade silencer for a firearm. The volume on explosives contains diagrams and guidance on booby traps, demolition and sabotage.

The white books, with red writing on the spine, gives warning that young Muslims are distracted and anaesthetised by television and sports events. It says that establishment of Allah’s law requires effort and preparation, and that Muslims should wage jihad against even fair and well-loved leaders if they are not sufficiently devout.

David Perry, for the prosecution, told the jury not to believe Abu Hamza’s defence if he argued that the manual’s advice was written solely for Afghan mujahidin at war with Russia. He said that the document’s execution section recommended that agents should be sent to any country intended as a target at least ten years before jihad began.

A heading “Targets to cause disturbance but not loss of life” lists the Statue of Liberty, Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower.

Under a section on plans to hit buildings with large populations, the document recommends museums, ports, archaeological sites and attacks on VIPs. Mr Perry said: “This supports what the prosecution says — that this is a manual, a blueprint for terrorism. What is echoed in this manual are things said in the defendant’s talks — apostate regimes, people who stand in the way of Islam; it’s all there.

But what is in this manual is how to go about it: how to make explosives; how to carry out secret operations; how to make firearms.”

He said the document told followers that jihad was an individual and collective duty, adding: “It contains anything anyone would ever need to know if they wanted to make home-made bombs or explosives.”

The manual gives advice on how to prepare military operations. Written before the 9/11 attacks, it praises bin Laden for jihad in Afghanistan and “still today inciting jihad”.

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