Attack on Abu Bakr Mosque of Baku

The Attack on Abu Bakr Mosque of Baku took place on August 17, 2008 when a grenade was thrown through a window of the Abu Bakr (Abu-Bekir) mosque in central Baku, Azerbaijan, during the evening prayer.[1][2] Three people were killed and eleven more were injured.[3] The Azerbaijani security forces accused the Russia-based Islamist Jihadist group, the Derbent Jamaat for the attack[4] and launched the Operation Eagle.[5]

Attack on Abu Bakr Mosque of Baku
Part of Insurgency in the North Caucasus
LocationBaku, Azerbaijan
DateAugust 17, 2008 (2008-08-17)
TargetAbu Bakr mosque
Weaponsgrenade
Deaths3
Injured11
PerpetratorsDerbent Jamaat (per Azerbaijan)
Accused

Background

According to the annual Country Report on Terrorism in 2008 of the US Department of State, "Azerbaijan is a logical route for extremists with ties to terrorist organizations".[6]

According to Reuters, the mosque is used both by Sunni and Wahhabi Muslims. And while Azerbaijan has launched several investigations into Wahhabism in the last few months, law enforcement agencies determined that Wahhabists convicted of an attempted terrorist act in the town of Sumgait had links to al-Qaeda.[2] Whilst the activities of Wahabbists in Azerbaijan are considered controversial, the government has declared Wahabbi groups would not be banned.[7]

The U.S. and Israeli embassies in Azerbaijan expressed concern about the incident.

Investigation

A special committee was created to handle the investigation. The mosque remained closed during the investigation.

The Ministry of National Security of Azerbaijan accused the Russia-based Derbent Jamaat leaders Ilgar Mollachiyev from Zagatala, and Samir Mehdiyev (Suleiman) and a group of others of organizing the attack on Abu Bakr Mosque in Baku. In 2007, 17 members of the group were arrested in Sumgayit. As the Ministry reported, "According to their plan, a Sumgayit Jamaat (a secret extremist group) had to be created. They planned a number of robberies in Baku in order to collect funds for a holy war (Jihad)."[4][8] The attack was followed by the Operation Eagle, launched by the Azerbaijani security services.[5]

References
  1. United States condemns attack on the Abu Bakr Mosque in Azerbaijan’s capital, ANS press, 2008 Archived 2008-09-19 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Azeri president to oversee mosque blast probe, 18 Aug 2008, Reuters, By Lada Yevgrashina
  3. "Дагестанского боевика сняли из подствольника // Ликвидирован командир группы "Южная"". Kommersant (in Russian). 9 September 2008. Archived from the original on 17 April 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  4. "Взрыв в мечети "Абу-Бекр" устроили члены вооруженной группировки "Лесные братья"". Day.az (in Russian). 2 September 2008. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  5. "Azərbaycanda "Meşə qardaşları" təşkilatının üzvləri zərərsizləşdirilib". Trend News Agency (in Azerbaijani). 8 September 2008. Archived from the original on 9 December 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  6. Azerbaijan is a logical route for extremists with ties to terrorist organizations, Says annual Country Report on Terrorism in 2008 of the US Department of State. ANS Press, 2008
  7. Three dead in attack on mosque in Azerbaijan, TopNews, 2008
  8. MNS Names Organizers of Terrorist Attack On Abu Bakr Mosque, Sept. 2008

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