Details were added, first version posted at 12:08
Azerbaijan, Baku, May 30 / Trend K.Zarbaliyeva /
Azerbaijani National Security Ministry detained an armed criminal group which planned an attempt on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's life during his visit to the north-western region of the country, as well as sabotage and terror acts on the eve and during the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku, the Ministry's Public Affairs Centre reported.
The aim of a dangerous transnational armed criminal group was to commit provocative terrorist acts, in individual groups on the eve and during the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku, to organise explosions and armed attacks where massive loss of life would ensue, including in Hilton Baku and JW Marriot Hotel Absheron, as well as to commit major explosions in the Baku Crystal Hall gaining access through purchasing tickets by any means and at the National Flag Square.
As previously reported, the aim of the armed group that underwent special training and was equipped with various types of firearms, ammunition, explosives and devices, as well as other military devices, was to commit a series of terrorist attacks in several regions of Azerbaijan, to create chaos and anarchy in the country, fear and confusion among the public, to create resistance on the ethnic and religious grounds, to disrupt stability and damage the image of Azerbaijan in the international arena. To do this, it was planned to blow up a number of places of pilgrimage, considered sacred among the population, mosques and religious sites that are considered places of worship of other faiths, and to commit other dangerous actions. In addition, the group planned murder of law enforcement officials and attacks on office buildings in order to seize weapons and ammunition. It was also planned that armed groups related to this group would hide in the areas bordering on the Republic of Dagestan of the Russian Federation and mountain forests, and places for temporary residence, bunkers and trenches would be prepared.
To neutralize this dangerous transnational criminal armed group, which poses a serious threat to social and political life of Azerbaijan, for timely suppression of terrorist actions the National Security Ministry has conducted large-scale special operations in Baku, Ganja, Sumgait, as well as in Gakh, Zagatala, Sheki, Gusar, Absheron, Khachmaz and Shabran regions. In some cases, armed resistance by members of the group was suppressed, in particular Vugar Padarov was killed and most of the members of the armed group were disarmed.