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THE MINISTRY OF National security in Azerbaijan has revealed that an armed group was planning to carry out acts of terror in Baku on the eve of the Eurovision 2012 song contest.
In a statement released yesterday, the Ministry said that the “transnational criminal armed group” wanted to cause heavy human losses but its plans were thwarted by “intensive security measures”.
They said that members of the gang were targeting hotels such as the Hilton and JW Marriot in Baku which were mainly populated by foreigners, as well as the Baku Crystal Hall where the Eurovision song contest was held.
Two large-scale special operations in Baku and other cities yesterday and on 16 May saw 40 people arrested and a number of weapons, ammunition and explosives seized. Toy cars with explosive substances, 13 submachine guns, hand grenades and detonators were among the items confiscated.
Two of the suspects were killed during the operations after opening fire on security forces. Two officers were also wounded, according to the government.
Security services said the types of explosives found could have been used in crowded places with devastating effect.
In recent months, Azerbaijan has said that is has been the target of terrorist activities planned by groups with ties to Al Qaeda and Iran. The statement yesterday also included details of other planned attacks, most notably an assassination attempt on President Ilham Aliyev in April. It also detailed planned attacks on law-enforcement organisations, administrative buildings, prayer houses, mosques and other religious places.
It did yeah!!! Any excuse to lock up any local opposition against the ruling family
Nail on the head Simon.
One gun and two bullets would have been enough!
should have let them at it!! Would have been doing us all a favour.
Of course killing a large amount of innocent people is doing us a favour, you have a sick and deluded mind to think that.
Eamonn, Im sorry for your lack of humour and sarcasm. If I put a “haha” or “lol” at the end of it, it would have been perceived differently, but to be honest, I couldn’t give a fiddlers what you think!!
“Two of the suspects was killed during the operations”….c’mon Journal.
Facepalm! It was initially ‘One of the suspects was killed etc….’ and then found another death hidden in the depths of the statement. That’s my excuse for the inexcusable.
Thanks,
Sinead
There is a “send and tip/correction button” at the top. Publicly red circling it isn’t nice.
*a
Wolfgang & Conor: Are you both saying that killing Irish nationals is acceptable? Are you saying killing two people, of any nationality, is acceptable? No matter what your opinions on the Grimes twins are, they have done nothing to deserve death and your comments make you despicable human beings!
get off your high horse trevor and go out and get a sense of humour!! Dry shite.
The eurovision is terrorism.
Indeed – it makes me run in fear of television sets and social media for the duration of the contest.
is there any possibility that this is a smokescreen to cover the reported human rights abuses just before the eurovision . when was the last time 40 + people launched a terrorist attack? sounds dodgy
Jedward must have been first on that list
have your say