Azerbaijani special services and law enforcers have proven that they can be just as professional as their Western counterparts. The arrest of a terrorist group planning terrorist attacks against US and Israeli citizens has international significance, because it shows world special services the methods Iranians agents use.
Such is the initial reaction to the arrest of 22 suspected terrorists in Baku. Israeli analysts said that the group was under the command of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps. It planned terrorist attacks against Israeli and US embassies, officers of British Petroleum, searched for henchmen.
Iran is believed to use the same methods in other countries, including Turkey. Azerbaijan prevented terrorist attacks against Israeli offices before. Israeli President Shimon Peres thanked Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev for security.
Peter Lyukimson, Israel. Exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza
P.S.
Azerbaijani television has shown police records of apartments of the suspected Iranian spies. They had weapons and explosives. The 22 suspects are Azerbaijani citizens. Preliminary reports on the detention of a terrorist group were seen about a month ago. Five people were arrested for espionage and recruitment. The group turned out to be larger.
Azerbaijani media said that a lot of time was spent on formation of the group. Niyazi Kerimov was recruited in 1999. He recruited more people. They underwent special training in Iran. Instructions and money for espionage was handed in Damascus and Moscow.
Kerimov visited Mashhad in Iran and was recruited by a Sepah officer Akber Pakravesh. He was then searching for supporters among Azerbainjani citizens for terrorist attacks against Israel, USA and European states and their diplomats.
The terrorist group was monitoring the Jewish organization of Sokhrut, American Fast-Food Restaurant, BP-Azərbaycan and was sending information to Iran. Its members are suspected in treason, and the illegal purchase and sales of weapons.
This was the third case of arrest of Azerbaijani citizens for cooperation with foreign intelligence services since 2011.
