Azerbaijani special services state detention of grouping that preparing a mosque blast

The special services of Azerbaijan have neutralized two members of the gang, who were preparing an explosion in the Shiite mosque "Meshedi Dadash", said the spokesman of the Ministry of National Security (MNS) of Azerbaijan.

According to his story, the operative-search actions resulted in detention of citizens of Azerbaijan Nariman Mirzoev and Mirzakhmed Rustamov. They were arrested; and criminal cases were initiated against them under the articles of "Preparing a terror act" and "Illegal possession of weapons".

The MNS asserts that Mirzoev and Rustamov, acting under fictitious names "Farman Chyatin" and "Sheikh Mirzakhmed al Gusari" spread calls for "jihad" in social networks against Shiites in Azerbaijan and for the murder of Shakhin Gasanov, the Akhund (Senior Mullah) of the Baku mosque "Meshedi Dadash".

According to special services, the members of the grouping had planned to blow up the mosque "Meshedi Dadash", where Shiite believers traditionally gather. For this purpose, they purchased, from so far unidentified sources, weapons and ammunition.

The MNS has added that operative and search actions are undertaken to capture the other members of the grouping and establishing all the circumstances of the case.

Shakhin Gasanov, the Akhund of the mosque "Meshedi Dadash" is one of the most popular Shiite preachers. The Friday prayers attract near one thousand believers into the mosque, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

According to Gamet Suleimanov, the head of the Salafi community of the Baku mosque "Abu Bekr", the religion-based terror threat in Azerbaijan is quite real. According to his story, he is also a potential target of radical groupings.