Azerbaijan's National Security Ministry has said that members of an armed gang recently arrested enjoyed support from Al-Qaeda, News.az reported.
The Ministry of National Security said in a statement on Wednesday that the gang was set up by Azerbaijani citizen Vugar Padarov in order to carry out terror attacks in Azerbaijan, APA reported.
Padarov died when National Security Ministry personnel tried to arrest him in Ganja earlier in April.
Members of the group underwent training in Syria and Pakistan and went to fight against ISAF forces in Afghanistan, Wednesday's ministry statement said.
Other group members received training in Iran and one, Elmir Nuraliyev, was subsequently involved in terror attacks in the Russian Republic of Dagestan.
Nineteen people in all have been arrested as part of the ongoing investigation, according to the ministry.
