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Azerbaijan security services prevent terrorist acts during Eurovision song contest

"Terrorists planned to commit acts of terror to kill as many people as possible," spokesman for the Azerbaijani ministry of national security said

BAKU, May 30 (Itar-Tass) —— Azerbaijan’s security forces intercepted a transnational group of terrorist who had plotted large-scale terrorist acts in Azerbaijan ahead and during the recent Eurovision 2012 song contest, a spokesman for the Azerbaijani ministry of national security said on Wednesday.

According to the spokesman, as many as 40 terrorists were neutralized. “A key target of the transnational criminal grouping was the Eurovision 2012 song contest. They planned to commit acts of terror to kill as many people as possible,” the spokesman. They plotted to commit bombings at public places, including Hilton and Marriott Hotels in downtown Baku, at the Baku Crystal Hall, the Eurovision venue, and at the State Flag Square. Apart from that, they intended to commit a terrorist act against Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev during his trip over the country’s northwest regions in April 2012.

Some of the terrorists, including one of their masterminds Vugar Padarov, were neutralized in April, the spokesman noted. The special operation was continued into May. “A great number of weapons, munitions, explosive devices, including explosives that cannot be identified by traditional detectors, were seized,” the spokesman said.

The operation to expose other members of the terrorist organization is underway.