Azerbaijani authorities reported that a terrorist act in the capital city was prevented. The State Security Service (SSS) detained three Azerbaijani citizens suspected of planning an armed attack on a foreign diplomatic mission in Baku. The announcement was made officially on January 27, 2026.

According to the SSS statement, the operation was the result of investigative and intelligence measures carried out amid heightened monitoring of potential national security threats, including those targeting diplomatic infrastructure.

According to the investigation, the detainees were in contact with members of the terrorist organization Islamic State — Khorasan Province (the Afghan branch of the internationally banned Islamic State group). Security services stated that the suspects acted under instructions from overseas handlers and planned the attack motivated by religious hatred.

During the operation, firearms and other materials intended for carrying out the attack were seized. The detainees were arrested at the stage of direct preparation, which allowed authorities to prevent the incident before it escalated into an active phase.

Several regional media outlets, citing law enforcement sources, published the names and ages of the detainees. All three are reported to be young Azerbaijani citizens, two of whom were born in 2005. According to sources, they used religious pseudonyms and maintained contact with extremist networks through encrypted communication channels.

Official authorities emphasize that the investigation is ongoing. The existence of a broader network of contacts, including potential accomplices both inside the country and abroad, has not been ruled out.

The SSS statement did not specify which country’s diplomatic mission was targeted. However, several international and Israeli media outlets, citing security sources, reported that the attack may have been planned against the Israeli embassy in Baku. Azerbaijani authorities have not officially confirmed this information as of the publication date.

Experts note that Israeli diplomatic missions in various countries have repeatedly been targets of threats from radical groups linked to global jihadist networks.

It should be noted that Islamic State — Khorasan Province is considered one of the most active and radical cells of the international jihadist movement. The group operates mainly in Afghanistan and neighboring regions but, according to international terrorism monitoring agencies, increasingly attempts to establish networks outside its primary area of conflict.

Analysts emphasize that Central Asia and the South Caucasus are viewed by extremist organizations as potential directions for targeted attacks aimed at drawing attention and destabilizing the situation.

Criminal cases have been opened against the detainees on charges related to the preparation of a terrorist act and participation in the activities of an extremist organization. The court has placed them in pre-trial detention. The SSS stated that countering international terrorism remains one of Azerbaijan’s top national security priorities.

The announcement of the foiled attack comes amid active international engagement by Baku in the field of security. In the same period, high-level meetings were held in the Azerbaijani capital with foreign officials to discuss regional stability and countering transnational threats.

Experts note that this incident may contribute to strengthening Azerbaijan’s cooperation with international partners in intelligence sharing and the protection of diplomatic facilities, as well as drawing further attention to the issue of youth radicalization in the digital sphere.

#AZERBAIJAN

29.01.2026 03:44