Tel-Chai Nation

As if you needed further proof something could be wrong involving both Azerbaijan and Iran, here's a disturbing case that occurred and was thankfully thwarted by the authorities on Cyprus:

The would-be hitman in the alleged Iranian terror plot to assassinate one or more Israeli businessmen in Cyprus reportedly spied out potential targets at an office complex where multiple Israelis worked, Channel 12 news reported Monday night.

Over the past week, reports have emerged of an attempted attack on Israeli targets in Cyprus, though reported details of the plot and its targets have varied widely.

Some sources claimed that the foiled attack was an assassination attempt against Israeli billionaire Teddy Sagi linked to his business dealings. But the Israeli government on Monday blamed “Iranian terror” for last week’s planned attack, and said Sagi was not the target. Sagi himself has denied being personally targeted.

According to Channel 12, the hired killer was of Azerbaijani origin and recently arrived in Cyprus on a flight from Russia using a Russian passport. Landing in Larnaca on the Cypriot southern side of the island he is said to have made his way to the Turkish-controlled city of Paralimni in the north where he rented a room and two vehicles.

Citing Cypriot police suspicions, the Israeli network said that the suspect then traveled back to Larnaca, where he attempted to find Israeli businessmen in the Angumi business district, where most of the island’s Israelis work.

He reportedly crossed the Turkish-Cypriot border back and forth a number of times on a bike.

In Larnaca, the assassin reportedly staked out an office complex known to be the workplace of multiple Israelis. The Channel 12 report said he was caught on security cameras snooping around the neighborhood, evidence that was eventually used to catch him.

Days later, he was arrested by Cypriot police from the Anti-Terrorism Unit with a gun and silencer on him that he had reportedly obtained while in Cyprus.

Well this certainly doesn't give Azerbaijan a good image as a country where Islam is the prime religion, nor does it alleviate concerns they could be confortable with Iran's regime, which is worse, but doesn't make Azerbaijan any less worrisome. Thank goodness a potential disaster was averted. This is exactly why it's ill-advised to side with Azerbaijan at Armenia's expense. The culprit was doubtless adhering to the Religion of Peace's jihadist themes, and could've caused a terrible incident if authorities hadn't been alert. Since the north end of the island is in Turkish control, it's possible they could have serious blame to shoulder too.

Labels: anti-semitism, Armenia, Asia, dhimmitude, iran, islam, Israel, jihad, Russia, terrorism, turkey, war on terror