2007 Baku terrorist plot

2007 Baku terrorist plot was a foiled islamic terrorist plot, aimed to insult several targets in Baku, Azerbaijan. The resulting security measures prompted the closure of the American and British embassies.cite news |title=Terror Attacks Against U.S. and British Embassies Thwarted in Azerbaijan|url= http://jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2373767| |publisher= Terrorism Focus|first=Anar |last=Valiyev |date=|accessdate= 2007-11-07] Some institutions such as Norwegian Statoil and American McDermott oil companies limited their activity.

On October 29, 2007 Azeri law enforcement agencies reported that they had detained a group of Salafis armed with grenade launchers who were preparing an attack near the United States and British embassies. According to the National Security Ministry spokesman it was discovered that the group had four Kalashnikov assault rifles, one Kalashnikov grenade launcher, 20 grenades, ammunition and automatic weapon parts. The group was also reported to have planned to attack a number of state buildings and representatives of private companies.

Background

On October 25, 2007 Azeri Ministry of Defense reported that one of the army officers deserted his regiment, taking four Kalashnikov assault rifles along with a machine gun from a military base. The Ministry of National Security has claimed that the officer was a follower of the Salafism and the stolen arms were going to be used in terror attacks.

According to report of Azeri Ministry's of Public Relations Department on 6 November, Abu Jafar, Arab by nationality, affiliated with Al-Qaeda and Al-Jihad, and others came to Azerbaijan and established an armed group from the persons who formerly participated in the illegal military units in separate conflict zones. During the joint measures of the law-enforcement bodies on 26 September in Qusar rayon, one of the group's members, resident of Qusar rayon, Telman Abdullayev (b. 1975) put up armed resistance, wounding two policemen with the fire-arm and could run from the place of incident. In addition, other members of the group, Vidadi Kerimov, Adil Jaraykhanov, Vitali Agamammadov, Asaf Nazarov and Danial Abuyev, were detained.cite news |title=Azerbaijan’s Ministry of National Security Detains Armed Group...|url= http://news.trend.az/index.shtml?show=news&newsid=1070759&lang=EN| |publisher= Trend News|first= |last= |date=|accessdate= 2007-11-07] It was discovered that the group was plotting to help Abu Jafar to escape Azerbaijan. The apartment in Sumgayit, where Abu Jafar was hidden, was taken under control. On October 10, during an operation in the apartment Abdul Malik and Elchin Alimirzayev a.k.a. Haji were arrested but Abu Jafar fired at officers and managed to escape. [cite news |title= National Security Ministry of Azerbaijan frustrates Al-Qaeda-linked group led by an Arab
url= http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=38552| |publisher= APA|first= |last= |date= 2007-11-06 16:32 |accessdate= 2007-11-07]

Operation

As a result of special operations, conducted on 2-3 November, Abu Jafar and other members of the group, Mirza Babayev, Gadir Hajiyev, Vugar Aliyev, Emin Cami, Logman Muradov, Habil Masmaliyev and Parviz Karimov, were detained. Due to the witty measures of the National Security Ministry’s "Gartal" ("Eagle") special team, Abu Jafar was detained without damage. 1 AKMS submachine gun, 3 pistols, 1 rifle, 12 hand grenades, 11 special lighters, 1.075 grams of explosives, 4-meter long Bickford's fuse, 91 detonators, 4 pistol magazines, 4 submachine gun magazines, 25 bullets, about 600 cartridges, 3 special lanterns, 2 compasses, 1 signal firework unit, 1 electricity conducting device, maps and other supplies were discovered. Proceedings were instituted under articles 279.2, 315.2 and 228.2.1 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.

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