Azerbaijan’s State Security Service (SSS) has arrested three Azerbaijani citizens on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack against a foreign country’s embassy in Baku, authorities said.

According to the SSS, the arrests were made during operational and investigative measures after authorities developed reasonable suspicions that the individuals were preparing an attack motivated by religious hostility.

The SSS said the three had established criminal links with members of the ISIS terrorist organisation’s “Vilayati-Khorasan” armed group.

Authorities said the investigation also uncovered extremist communications and materials indicating coordination and ideological radicalisation among the suspects prior to their detention.

Acting as a coordinated group, they allegedly obtained items intended to be used as weapons and were preparing to carry out a terrorist attack on the embassy of a foreign state in Azerbaijan.

Security officers detained the suspects as they approached the area where the embassy is located. It is not clear what embassy was targeted in the planned attack.

The individuals have been charged under multiple articles of Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code, including provisions related to the preparation of a terrorist act motivated by religious hostility, carried out by a group acting in conspiracy and involving objects used as weapons. A court has ordered their pretrial detention.

The SSS said investigative and operational measures in the case are ongoing.

This is a developing story

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