TORONTO -- Alleged Via Rail terrorist Chiheb Esseghaier proposed a terrorist plot to ignite a volcano to wreak "death and destruction" in historic Yellowstone National Park, his trial heard Tuesday.

Undercover FBI agent Tamer el-Noury, who spent months posing as a willing accomplice in Esseghaier's schemes, testified the Tunisian said he was "waiting for the green light" from his overseas jihadist leader to pursue this venture.

Esseghaier first raised this plan to el-Noury when both men were in California for several days in June 2012 after they met on a flight from Houston to San Jose.

Esseghaier, 37, a Tunisian studying in Montreal for his PhD, and Raed Jaser, 31, of Toronto, are facing several terror-related charges, including a conspiracy to derail a New York-to-Toronto train.

"He urged you to research the volcano," suggested Jaser's lawyer, John Norris, to the FBI agent, who agreed. Esseghaier and the agent were poring over websites after having dinner in California.

El-Noury said Esseghaier recommended the two men take a trip to Yellowstone -- an enormous park which straddles the states of Wyoming, Idaho and Montana -- "to talk to locals about any changes in the last 60 or 70 years."

Months later, during a drive back from Montreal to Toronto, Esseghaier revisited this scheme, court heard.

"He was passionate about the the volcano in Yellowstone. He's passionate about everything and he had done some research on the topic," recalled el-Noury, who won the suspect's confidence and offered assistance to solidify the bond.

Ultimately, Esseghaier rejected the volcanic explosion idea because it was too risky and unpredictable.

It was dangerous because the reconnaisance mission would shine a spotlight on them, court heard.

"If you ask too many questions, you'll attract negative attention," the agent recalled Esseghaier as saying.

Instead, Esseghaier focused on the train derailment plot, which was advanced by his jihadist leader, known as "The Responsible One," court heard.

Esseghaier said he spent some time in Iran in April 2011 and in February 2012, where his Mujahedeen brothers "tasked him to return to prepare for terrorist acts in Canada" to drive Western troops off Islamic lands, said el-Noury.

sam.pazzano@sunmedia.ca