A Melbourne jury has been told three men facing terrorism charges over the burning down of a Shia mosque in Melbourne's northern suburbs in December 2016 returned to the centre several times the day after the fire to "rejoice".

Key points: The fire at the Imam Ali Islamic Centre caused $1.5 million in damage

The fire at the Imam Ali Islamic Centre caused $1.5 million in damage CCTV footage allegedly shows the men at the mosque when the fire was started

CCTV footage allegedly shows the men at the mosque when the fire was started The court was told the men shared links to media coverage of the attack

Ahmed Mohamed, Abdullah Chaarani and Hatim Moukhaiber have pleaded not guilty to engaging in a terrorist attack.

In the early hours of December 11, 2016 the Imam Ali Islamic Centre in Fawkner was set on fire, causing $1.5 million in damage.

They are accused of trying to intimidate the centre's members, who are Shia Muslims.

The men followed an extreme Sunni version of Islam supported by the Islamic State terrorist group, the court was told.

Security camera footage, played in court, allegedly showed Mr Chaarani spray-painting the words "Islamic State" in English and Arabic on the walls of the mosque, before Mr Mohamed allegedly entered the building carrying a white plastic container and a car tyre.

The video showed a third man, alleged to be Mr Moukhaiber, following with another tyre before flames and smoke filled the room and they ran out.

One of the men allegedly used spray-paint to graffiti the wall of the Imam Ali Islamic Centre, in Fawkner. ( ABC News )

Prosecutor Nicholas Robinson told the jury that tracking devices were attached to the cars of the accused and showed the men "made a number of trips to the Fawkner mosque… to look at and rejoice in what had happened".

The prosecution also alleged text message exchanges reveal Mr Chaarani was the first to have driven past.

"Was it packed, was it busy," Mr Mohamed is alleged to have asked.

The court also heard both men went together mid afternoon "to view what they had done in daylight hours."

"They did so to show their wives… and they went on their way to celebrating," Mr Robinson said.

Later Mr Moukhaiber was driven past the damaged mosque.

The court heard the men had used the internet to find media coverage on social media and news sites about the attack.

They allegedly shared links to stories with each other and also sent them to others.

The men allegedly drove past the mosque after the attack and searched for media coverage of the fire. ( ABC News )

"Each of the accused were very proud of their efforts to destroy the mosque and were very keen to examine, read about and to pass on the information about it," Mr Robinson said.

The men were arrested when their car was intercepted by police the following week, after which police said they found a white 20-litre plastic container smelling of petrol at Mr Mohamed's home.

In Mr Chaarani's car, the court heard police found a pouring spout for a fuel container, matches, a lighter and the lid of a can of black spray-paint.

The prosecution told the jury police found material threatening and disparaging Shia Muslims on phones seized from the men.

The men allegedly exchanged text messages via the encrypted messaging application WhatsApp.

"Shias are not Muslims. Shias do not represent Islam. Shias are the enemy," the messages allegedly said.

CCTV footage allegedly shows the trio at the mosque when the fire started. ( ABC News: Iskhandar Razak )

Mr Chaarani allegedly wrote "may Allah's curse befall the oppressors," making specific reference to Shiites.

Mr Mohamed is alleged to have written "followers of Shiism is stupid and arrogant", and only "donkeys and monkeys follow this".

The court was also shown video of an alleged earlier attempt to set fire to the centre by Mr Mohamed and Mr Chaarani, who face an additional charge of attempting to engage in a terrorist act.

The hearing continues.