BICOM

Conflicting reports emerged last night on an alleged Iranian plot against Israeli and Jewish targets in Azerbaijan. Local media reported an Iranian-backed terrorist cell had planned to kill Jewish teachers at a Jewish School just outside the capital Baku, in revenge for the recent killing of a nuclear scientist in Tehran. Other reports in the media claimed a group consisting of three people were offered $150,000 by Iran to assassinate Israel’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan Michael Lotem. Two of the suspects are now being held in custody.

Despite the reports, a spokesman for the network of Jewish schools working in Azerbaijan on Tuesday night denied any knowledge of a planned attack. So far the Israeli foreign ministry has not responded to the reports.

In 2008 a terrorist cell was seized in Azerbaijan. Security forces said they planned to bomb the Israeli embassy in the country to avenge the death of Imad Mughniyeh, Hezbollah’s senior member. Hezbollah says the bomb that killed Mughniyeh in Damascus was planted by Israel.

Following the latest reports, Israel has issued a travel warning for Azerbaijan.