Azerbaijani authorities on Tuesday said they had arrested three men accused of planning an attack on a foreign embassy in the capital, allegedly at the direction of Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K).
In a statement, Azerbaijan’s State Security Service said the suspects had conspired with members of ISIS-K. They allegedly obtained weapons and were preparing to carry out an attack on a foreign diplomatic mission in Baku.
Security forces arrested the men before the plan could be executed. Authorities did not disclose the name of the targeted embassy.
Suspects identified, investigation ongoing
The State Security Service named the three individuals in its statement. One of the suspects was born in 2000, while the other two were born in 2005.
Officials said the men were charged with “preparation for terrorism” motivated by religious hostility. An investigation into the case is still underway.
ISIS-K and regional security threats
Islamic State Khorasan, also known as ISIS-K, is the Afghan offshoot of the Islamic State group. The organisation claimed responsibility for the 2024 Crocus City Hall attack in Moscow, which killed at least 145 people.
Authorities have foiled several ISIS-linked plots in recent years.
Many of these incidents have occurred in Central Asia and in Russia’s Muslim-majority regions.
Azerbaijan is a secular country of around 10 million people in the South Caucasus.
It borders both Russia and Iran and has a predominantly Muslim population, the majority of whom are Shiites.
Officials have repeatedly said counterterrorism remains a top priority.
Security agencies closely monitor extremist networks operating in and around the region.
In a separate case last October, an Azerbaijani court sentenced a man affiliated with ISIS-K to 13 years in prison.
He was found guilty of plotting an attack on a synagogue in Baku using a Molotov cocktail in December 2024.
Authorities cited the case as evidence of continued threats from extremist groups.
They said vigilance remains essential to prevent future attacks.
