Terror threat closes UK Embassy

The British Embassy in Azerbaijan's capital Baku was closed today after the government there said it had foiled a major Islamic terrorist plot against foreigners.

It said extremists were planning a "large-scale, horrifying terror attack" against government buildings and diplomatic sites in the mainly Muslim state which lies between Iran and Russia.

One suspect was killed and several others were detained in the weekend sweep.

The British Embassy in Baku closed today and the US Embassy scaled back its operations in response to the threat.

The national security ministry said that the radical Islamic group included an army lieutenant who had stolen 20 hand grenades, a machine gun, four assault rifles and ammunition from his military unit and made them available for the planned attack.

Security forces tracked down the group and arrested several of its members during a sweep in the village of Mastaga about 20 miles north east of Baku.

"That prevented a large-scale, horrifying terror attack that was being prepared by members of this group against several state structures in Baku and embassies and missions of the countries which are members of the international anti-terror coalition," the ministry said in a statement.

It added that a hunt for other members of the group was still under way.

A spokesman said the group had planned a "terror attack against several government structures in Baku and the US Embassy".