A 21-year-old Queensland man facing terrorism charges allegedly had a "how-to-kill-by-hand" document as well as bomb-making and guerrilla warfare material, court documents reveal.

Za'id Abdus Samad was arrested on Saturday morning at a house in Kuraby, south of Brisbane, during a raid by police from the Brisbane Joint Counter Terrorism Team and ASIO.

Police alleged that between mid-2016 and early 2017, Mr Abdus Samad planned to travel to Syria to fight and had recruited two teenagers to join him, but the group never left the country.

He was charged with 14 terrorism-related offences, including five counts of preparations for incursions into foreign countries for the purpose of engaging in hostile activities.

Police alleged Mr Abdus Samad was researching flights to Antakya, Turkey and "attempted to purchase an item for use in learning how to make an explosive device".

The court documents show he was also accused of "printing and processing [a] guerrilla warfare document ... how to make a silencer document ... and a bomb-making document".

Police alleged Mr Abdus Samad also engaged in physical training and conditioning sessions as well as martial arts training.

They also alleged he provided someone a "how-to-kill-by-hand document".

'He's only travelled for family gatherings'

During Mr Abdus Samad's first appearance on the charges in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday, his barrister Ruth O'Gorman argued he should be released on bail because he is of a young age and had no criminal history.

She said there was a "lack of evidence" that he tried to leave Australia at any time.

The court heard he travelled to India with family in 2015 and 2017 for a funeral and a wedding.

"He hasn't attempted to go anywhere except for legitimate family gathering," Ms O'Gorman said.

She said he had a passport "for many years".

"He could have easily accessed it if he wanted to," she said.

Police counter terrorism officers and ASIO found the documents in this Kuraby home on Saturday. ( ABC News: Tim Swanston )

The court heard the police raid turned up "concerning" documents in Mr Abdus Samad's bedroom.

Ms O'Gorman said her client had instructed her that he had handwritten the words of others in notes she described as "either copy and paste, so to speak, from the Koran or from other teachings".

"They are not his own words," she added.

She said her client was willing to participate in "very onerous" bail conditions if released, including surrendering his passport.

Magistrate Christine Roney said police had a "considerably strong" case and the material suggested Mr Abdus Samad indicated a desire to "return and not come back".

The court heard Mr Abdus Samad was born in Logan, had been home-schooled and was studying paramedicine at university.

Ms Roney refused the bail application and Mr Abdus Samad was remanded in custody to appear in court again next month.