A militia group in the US planned to "go to war" against the government with assault rifles and homemade bombs and dressed in military style helmets, a court heard today.
A video of their leader David Stone, 47, declaring "welcome to the revolution" was shown to a jury in Detroit.
Stone's lawyer William Swor said: "The anti-Christ as David Stone understands it will come from overseas and the troops of the anti-Christ will take over America. That is the resistance that David Stone was preparing for."
In another excerpt Stone says: "This war will come whether we are ready or not. We have to strike and take our nation back from tyranny."
Stone, of Lenawee County, Detroit, two of his sons and his wife are among those charged with sedition and the "attempted use of weapons of mass destruction" and firearms offences. They were arrested in raids in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.
Prosecutors say the group had met regularly since 2008 to conduct military-style training and were about to kill a policeman and then ambush his funeral procession.
Defence lawyers argue they were members of a social club and reference to "war and revolution" was them "letting off steam".
Mr Swor described a government informant who had infiltrated the group as "more of a mercenary, a real flake," adding: "One thing is clear. No conspiracy. No plan. No action."
The court heard the group, which opposes regulation of firearms and explosives, was so poor they could not afford to travel to a meeting in Kentucky. The case continues.
