The Australian is reporting (via the INQUIRER) that security experts have found that jihadi terrorists groups can using virtual worlds such as Second Life and World of Warcraft as training grounds.

Online worlds represent another communications medium, but are poor alternatives to web sites and online forums. World of Warcraft is a game with strict play rules - about all it could offer is improving team coordination. Second Life residents do have the Second Life Liberation Army creating problems at times, but they are little more than pranksters whose worst offense is probably taking a game a little too seriously.

The best quote is from Kevin Zuccato, head of the Australian High Tech Crime Centre in Canberra, who says,

terrorists can gain training in games such as World of Warcraft in a simulated environment, using weapons that are identical to real-world armaments.

It’s pretty clear that Mr. Zuccato has never looked at or played WoW. Nothing in the game even remotely resembles real-world arms, nor are in-game tactics of any use in the real world. I doubt even the most fervent radical islamist believes a Bringer of Death would be of much use out here.