Encyclopedia of Afghan Jihad

Encyclopedia of Afghan Jihad (aka Encyclopedia of the Afghani Jihad or Encyclopedia of Afghan Terrorism) is a manual of Jihad in eleven volumes, detailing how to make and use explosives and firearms, how to plan and carry out assassinations and other terrorist acts, and much more. It was found in the London residence of Islamic cleric Sheikh Abu Hamza al-Masri in May 2004. During al-Masri's trial, the prosecution referred to the literature as a "blueprint for terror".

The books ... bore a dedication to Osama bin Laden, among others, and suggested Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower as targets for attack, the prosecution alleged. The manual urged that plans "should be laid out" to hit buildings such as skyscrapers, ports, airports, nuclear plants and football stadiums, the prosecution said, and it talked about attacking large congregations of people at Christmas.^[1]

Al-Masri was convicted in a British court on 8 February 2006 of several charges, including "one count of possessing an item of potential use in an act of terrorism", referring to the Encyclopedia. He was sentenced to seven years in prison.

See also: Al Qaeda Handbook

Outline

There are 11 books in the encyclopedia. The AFP reported their titles, principal subjects addressed, and some specific topics such as :

1. Explosives
2. First aid
3. Pistols, revolvers
4. Bombs, mines
5. Security intelligence
6. Tactics practiced
7. Weapons
8. Tanks
9. Close fighting
10. Topography area survey
11. Armament

Sources

• ^ "Abu Hamza trial: Islamic cleric had terror handbook, court told", The Guardian, London, January 12, 2006.
• "Cleric gets seven years in jail for soliciting murder", The Independent, London, February 8, 2006.