Two suspects detained over deadly university shooting
Azerbaijan`s law enforcement officers have detained
two individuals following Thursday`s deadly armed assault at a
local university.
The two suspects, Nadir Aliyev and Javidan Amirov, were arrested in connection with the rampage committed by Farda Gadirov, a Georgian citizen of Azeri origin, at the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy in the center of Baku, which killed 12 people and wounded 13, the Interior Ministry and Prosecutor-General`s Office said in a joint statement. Unconfirmed reports suggest, however, that the number of victims is higher.
After entering the building at 9.30 a.m., Gadirov, 29, was said to have gone from floor to floor on the academy campus, firing upon innocent passersby using a Makarov pistol. Having seen that he would be apprehended by special police forces, which were immediately called to the site, Gadirov committed suicide.
Investigators have ascertained that Aliyev, a citizen of neighboring Georgia who comes from the same village as the shooter, had assisted Gadirov in committing the crime. Amirov, a resident of a settlement in Georgia`s Marneuli region, is related to Gadirov and was maintaining close contacts with him prior to the incident. He arrived in Baku on March 12.
While searching Amirov`s apartment, 12 bullets for an AK sub-machine gun and a Makarov pistol, as well as 5 grams of hashish were found. Work is underway to establish whether or not he was involved in the rampage, according to officials.
During a search carried out at the attacker`s home, bullets, a black mask with the image of a wolf and used medical rubber gloves were discovered, the statement said.
Investigators have proven that the shots at the academy were fired from the same gun and that Gadirov had shot himself with his own weapon.
The statement also said the theory circulated in media reports suggesting that Gadirov`s weapon was used to murder Rail Rzayev, the commander of the Azerbaijan Air Force and Air Defense Troops who was shot dead in February, had not been confirmed.
300 people have testified as witnesses in connection with the academy assault. Those who recorded the shootings on their cellular phones have been questioned and the recordings taken by the law enforcement officers.
Investigators continue working to determine whether or not the two brothers who were leasing their apartment to Gadirov are linked with the crime, according to the Interior Ministry and Prosecutor-General`s Office.
According to the Baku City Prosecutor`s Office, Nadir Aliyev testified that he rented an apartment with Gadirov and that the latter had told him shortly before the assault that "the whole world would be talking about him in a couple of days," the local ANS TV channel reported.
Aliyev also said that he had seen Gadirov with a weapon and heard him threaten to kill someone named Hajiahmad, who is from the same region in Georgia.
Vidadi Hasanov, the executive official of Georgia`s Marneuli region, has told ANS that Gadirov, who comes from Marneuli`s Dashtepe village, and Aliyev were not close neighbors. According to Hasanov, Aliyev had worked at a doner kabab (a meat dish which originated in Turkey) stand near the academy building.
An identification document belonging to Farda Gadirov, three specially prepared ammunition belts containing 71 bullets and two gun holsters were found on Gadirov after he had taken his own life.
Among those killed were the university`s vice-rector, numerous students and faculty members. Three of the wounded are foreign citizens - two Sudanese nationals and a Syrian.
The Prosecutor General`s Office has launched a criminal case on charges of killing scores of people with the purpose of hooliganism and the illegal possession of firearms. President Ilham Aliyev has assumed responsibility for the probe.
Commenting on rumors that the mass killings could have been a terror act, Eldar Sultanov, spokesman for the Prosecutor General`s Office, told Radio Liberty: "We have begun a criminal investigation on these charges for the time being. However, the terrorism charge may be added in the course of the investigation."
Eyewitnesses said the gunman shot each victim in the head while inside the building and witnesses testified that if the victims were still alive, Gadirov shot them again. He appeared to randomly choose his victims- teachers, students or Academy employees.
Vidadi Hasanov says the assailant was born into a teacher`s family in Dashtepe and his father taught Azerbaijani language classes at a local school. Gadirov, who lived in Russia with his parents for the past 15 years, had come to his native village a month ago.
"He was a reserved person and never bonded with anyone. He behaved normally and no one noticed him to have any extreme nervousness," said Hasanov.
Ali Hasanov, the head of the socio-political department in the President`s Office, said the incident was not aimed at disrupting socio-political stability in Azerbaijan, and said adding additional coloring to it would be wrong.
"I don`t think this was a purposeful or premeditated act aimed at violating stability. Such incidents happen in many countries," he said.
President Aliyev has expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. He said he was enormously troubled by the tragedy, asking everyone to show patience and self-restraint.
"You can be sure that the Azerbaijani government will undertake all necessary measures regarding this incident," the president pledged.
A number of world leaders and diplomatic missions have expressed their condolences to Azerbaijan over the tragedy. This includes Presidents Dmitry Medvedev of Russia, Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia, Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine, Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, and Valdis Zatlers of Latvia. Further, the Embassies of Iran and Iraq, as well as the US State Department have said they stand by Azerbaijan at this time of awe and grief. In their messages, they expressed deep regret over the tragic deaths and injuries of innocent students, including foreign nationals, and teachers.
Meanwhile, a number of people, including youths and public figures, paid tribute to the victims of the rampage outside the academy on Friday by laying flowers and burning candles at the academy.
A number of well-known personalities have attended the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy, which was previously called the Institute of Oil and Chemistry. These include the Azerbaijani national leader, former President Heydar Aliyev, Vagit Alekperov, president of Russia`s largest private oil company, Lukoil, Angolan President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos and chief of the Soviet secret service under the Stalin government, Lavrenti Beriya.
Some experts have voiced concern that official reports on the academy incident are incomplete and, in many cases, contradictory. Sulhaddin Akbar, a former deputy national security minister, claimed it would be wrong to presume that the incident was mere hooliganism.
"It is indicative that the gunman took well-aimed shots. The victims were mainly shot in the head. Another detail that particularly attracts attention is that the weapon had been specially prepared. Such preparations would not have been made for the purpose of hooliganism."
Akbar also said that the ID found on the criminal could have been forged. He added that in order to establish the motive for the crime, both the identity and the previous health condition of the shooter must be thoroughly ascertained.
Arastun Orujlu, a former national security ministry officer, branded the shooting as a terror act. Orujlu, who heads the local East-West Research Center, does not rule out that the crime was committed under the influence of foreign factors and may have had as its purpose the disruption of stability in Azerbaijan.
"This act could have been perpetrated by foreign or internal forces. It is also possible that it was a concerted act by both. The goal here is to put pressure on the head of state."
Orujlu further alleged that sources in the country are reluctant to announce that the crime was actually an act of terror, as "there was a practice of labeling terror acts as hooliganism in the past as well." He recalled that an explosion rocked a power substation in 2008 and it was later regarded as an act of hooligans. "It seems to me that the fact the trail of numerous high-profile crimes committed in Azerbaijan leads to Georgia is not accidental."
The number of killed and injured, the nature of their wounds, shots made at moving targets, and the type of firearms used indicate that the crime was committed by a professional who shot with almost 100 percent accuracy. It should also be taken into account that the killer had to reload his weapon at least twice in a short period of time.
However, Gadirov`s father maintained that his son "did not even know how to properly hold a weapon." Moreover, it should be taken into consideration that the man was a Georgian citizen who has lived in Russia for the past 15 years. This means that he had not served in the military - either Georgian, Russian or Azerbaijani army. A reasonable question therefore arises as to where he had learned to shoot so skillfully.
Gadirov had thoroughly prepared for the attack beforehand, as an ammunition belt was found at the scene. Thus, the presumption made by numerous sources that the shooting was accidental or had resulted from a brawl among students obviously has no merit, analysts say.
The theory that the killer was settling scores with a specific person at the academy is also implausible, as Gadirov was not attending the university and knew no one there. Besides, the fact that he was indiscriminately shooting everyone he saw suggests that he had set out to kill the maximum number of people. But the question remains: why?
The two suspects, Nadir Aliyev and Javidan Amirov, were arrested in connection with the rampage committed by Farda Gadirov, a Georgian citizen of Azeri origin, at the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy in the center of Baku, which killed 12 people and wounded 13, the Interior Ministry and Prosecutor-General`s Office said in a joint statement. Unconfirmed reports suggest, however, that the number of victims is higher.
After entering the building at 9.30 a.m., Gadirov, 29, was said to have gone from floor to floor on the academy campus, firing upon innocent passersby using a Makarov pistol. Having seen that he would be apprehended by special police forces, which were immediately called to the site, Gadirov committed suicide.
Investigators have ascertained that Aliyev, a citizen of neighboring Georgia who comes from the same village as the shooter, had assisted Gadirov in committing the crime. Amirov, a resident of a settlement in Georgia`s Marneuli region, is related to Gadirov and was maintaining close contacts with him prior to the incident. He arrived in Baku on March 12.
While searching Amirov`s apartment, 12 bullets for an AK sub-machine gun and a Makarov pistol, as well as 5 grams of hashish were found. Work is underway to establish whether or not he was involved in the rampage, according to officials.
During a search carried out at the attacker`s home, bullets, a black mask with the image of a wolf and used medical rubber gloves were discovered, the statement said.
Investigators have proven that the shots at the academy were fired from the same gun and that Gadirov had shot himself with his own weapon.
The statement also said the theory circulated in media reports suggesting that Gadirov`s weapon was used to murder Rail Rzayev, the commander of the Azerbaijan Air Force and Air Defense Troops who was shot dead in February, had not been confirmed.
300 people have testified as witnesses in connection with the academy assault. Those who recorded the shootings on their cellular phones have been questioned and the recordings taken by the law enforcement officers.
Investigators continue working to determine whether or not the two brothers who were leasing their apartment to Gadirov are linked with the crime, according to the Interior Ministry and Prosecutor-General`s Office.
According to the Baku City Prosecutor`s Office, Nadir Aliyev testified that he rented an apartment with Gadirov and that the latter had told him shortly before the assault that "the whole world would be talking about him in a couple of days," the local ANS TV channel reported.
Aliyev also said that he had seen Gadirov with a weapon and heard him threaten to kill someone named Hajiahmad, who is from the same region in Georgia.
Vidadi Hasanov, the executive official of Georgia`s Marneuli region, has told ANS that Gadirov, who comes from Marneuli`s Dashtepe village, and Aliyev were not close neighbors. According to Hasanov, Aliyev had worked at a doner kabab (a meat dish which originated in Turkey) stand near the academy building.
An identification document belonging to Farda Gadirov, three specially prepared ammunition belts containing 71 bullets and two gun holsters were found on Gadirov after he had taken his own life.
Among those killed were the university`s vice-rector, numerous students and faculty members. Three of the wounded are foreign citizens - two Sudanese nationals and a Syrian.
The Prosecutor General`s Office has launched a criminal case on charges of killing scores of people with the purpose of hooliganism and the illegal possession of firearms. President Ilham Aliyev has assumed responsibility for the probe.
Commenting on rumors that the mass killings could have been a terror act, Eldar Sultanov, spokesman for the Prosecutor General`s Office, told Radio Liberty: "We have begun a criminal investigation on these charges for the time being. However, the terrorism charge may be added in the course of the investigation."
Eyewitnesses said the gunman shot each victim in the head while inside the building and witnesses testified that if the victims were still alive, Gadirov shot them again. He appeared to randomly choose his victims- teachers, students or Academy employees.
Vidadi Hasanov says the assailant was born into a teacher`s family in Dashtepe and his father taught Azerbaijani language classes at a local school. Gadirov, who lived in Russia with his parents for the past 15 years, had come to his native village a month ago.
"He was a reserved person and never bonded with anyone. He behaved normally and no one noticed him to have any extreme nervousness," said Hasanov.
Ali Hasanov, the head of the socio-political department in the President`s Office, said the incident was not aimed at disrupting socio-political stability in Azerbaijan, and said adding additional coloring to it would be wrong.
"I don`t think this was a purposeful or premeditated act aimed at violating stability. Such incidents happen in many countries," he said.
President Aliyev has expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. He said he was enormously troubled by the tragedy, asking everyone to show patience and self-restraint.
"You can be sure that the Azerbaijani government will undertake all necessary measures regarding this incident," the president pledged.
A number of world leaders and diplomatic missions have expressed their condolences to Azerbaijan over the tragedy. This includes Presidents Dmitry Medvedev of Russia, Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia, Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine, Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, and Valdis Zatlers of Latvia. Further, the Embassies of Iran and Iraq, as well as the US State Department have said they stand by Azerbaijan at this time of awe and grief. In their messages, they expressed deep regret over the tragic deaths and injuries of innocent students, including foreign nationals, and teachers.
Meanwhile, a number of people, including youths and public figures, paid tribute to the victims of the rampage outside the academy on Friday by laying flowers and burning candles at the academy.
A number of well-known personalities have attended the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy, which was previously called the Institute of Oil and Chemistry. These include the Azerbaijani national leader, former President Heydar Aliyev, Vagit Alekperov, president of Russia`s largest private oil company, Lukoil, Angolan President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos and chief of the Soviet secret service under the Stalin government, Lavrenti Beriya.
Some experts have voiced concern that official reports on the academy incident are incomplete and, in many cases, contradictory. Sulhaddin Akbar, a former deputy national security minister, claimed it would be wrong to presume that the incident was mere hooliganism.
"It is indicative that the gunman took well-aimed shots. The victims were mainly shot in the head. Another detail that particularly attracts attention is that the weapon had been specially prepared. Such preparations would not have been made for the purpose of hooliganism."
Akbar also said that the ID found on the criminal could have been forged. He added that in order to establish the motive for the crime, both the identity and the previous health condition of the shooter must be thoroughly ascertained.
Arastun Orujlu, a former national security ministry officer, branded the shooting as a terror act. Orujlu, who heads the local East-West Research Center, does not rule out that the crime was committed under the influence of foreign factors and may have had as its purpose the disruption of stability in Azerbaijan.
"This act could have been perpetrated by foreign or internal forces. It is also possible that it was a concerted act by both. The goal here is to put pressure on the head of state."
Orujlu further alleged that sources in the country are reluctant to announce that the crime was actually an act of terror, as "there was a practice of labeling terror acts as hooliganism in the past as well." He recalled that an explosion rocked a power substation in 2008 and it was later regarded as an act of hooligans. "It seems to me that the fact the trail of numerous high-profile crimes committed in Azerbaijan leads to Georgia is not accidental."
The number of killed and injured, the nature of their wounds, shots made at moving targets, and the type of firearms used indicate that the crime was committed by a professional who shot with almost 100 percent accuracy. It should also be taken into account that the killer had to reload his weapon at least twice in a short period of time.
However, Gadirov`s father maintained that his son "did not even know how to properly hold a weapon." Moreover, it should be taken into consideration that the man was a Georgian citizen who has lived in Russia for the past 15 years. This means that he had not served in the military - either Georgian, Russian or Azerbaijani army. A reasonable question therefore arises as to where he had learned to shoot so skillfully.
Gadirov had thoroughly prepared for the attack beforehand, as an ammunition belt was found at the scene. Thus, the presumption made by numerous sources that the shooting was accidental or had resulted from a brawl among students obviously has no merit, analysts say.
The theory that the killer was settling scores with a specific person at the academy is also implausible, as Gadirov was not attending the university and knew no one there. Besides, the fact that he was indiscriminately shooting everyone he saw suggests that he had set out to kill the maximum number of people. But the question remains: why?
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