Trial of person accused of preparing attack on synagogue in Baku continues

Another court hearing has been held in the criminal case initiated by the State Security Service (SSS) of Azerbaijan against Abdulla Aliyev, who is accused of preparing an attack on a synagogue in Azerbaijan.

According to Report, witnesses testified at the trial held at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes, presided over by Judge Aygun Gurbanova.

According to one of the witnesses, they got acquainted with Abdulla through the Instagram social media in November 2024:

"Later, we started messaging regularly. He told me about ISIS. He even said he had an acquaintance there. A week later, he sent me an invitation to join a group (on social media - ed.). I joined. I read it. Then he invited me to another secret group. He wanted me to join. After a while, he told me he was going to attack the synagogue and asked me for an axe, knife, Molotov cocktail, and gloves for this purpose. He told me that after this, when the time comes, he would blow up other places too. He said 'continue my work' after I die. He sent me a location. I went there. He got into the car and we drove toward the synagogue. On the way there, the State Security Service officers stopped us. A search was conducted. Items belonging to him and incendiary materials were found in the car and on Abdulla."

The next court session will be held on September 22.

Abdulla Aliyev is charged under Articles 28, 214.2.1 (terrorism committed by a group of persons in collusion, an organized gang, or a criminal association (criminal organization)), 28, 214.2.3 (terrorism committed using firearms and objects used as weapons), 28, 214.2.6 (terrorism committed on the grounds of religious enmity, religious radicalism, or religious fanaticism), 218.2 (participation in a criminal association (organization), as well as in an association of organizers, leaders, or other representatives of organized gangs) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.

He was detained by the State Security Service officers while preparing to attack a Jewish synagogue in Baku with a "Molotov cocktail."

According to the accusation, 18-year-old Abdulla Aliyev, who lives in Sumgayit and was affiliated with the "ISIS Khorasan" terrorist organization, was preparing to carry out a terrorist act against the "Baku Mountain Jews Synagogue."

On December 28, 2025, he approached the Jewish synagogue by car and was preparing to attack the synagogue with a "Molotov cocktail" and other items and objects he intended to use as weapons. During the operation, items and objects that Abdulla Aliyev intended to use as weapons were discovered and seized from him and from the car.