Moroccan authorities dismantled terrorist cell and they are close to identify foreign national linked to ISIS

Head of the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation (BCIJ) Abdelhak El Khiam has said that the counterterrorism bureau is currently identifying a foreigner involved in an ISIS-linked terrorist cell. The BCIJ dismantled the cell on Friday, October 25 in Casablanca, Ouazzane, and Chefchaouen.

El Khiam spoke about the BCIJ recent operation in a press conference on Monday, October 28.

The bureau director said that the foreign national, possibly a Syrian citizen, is an emissary sent by ISIS to the cell leader.

He added that the emissary, “who was accompanied by two other individuals, assured the cell’s leader, in a meeting in the region of Ouezzane, of the readiness of ISIS to provide him with the logistics necessary to undertake terrorist acts in Morocco, especially in Casablanca.”

El Khiam said that the terror cell plotted attacks aiming to turn Morocco into a “bloodbath.”

The security chief explained that the suspects planned to target sensitive sites to undermine the safety and security of the country.

BCIJ recently located a terrorist hideout in the province of Ouazzane in northern Morocco. Members of the recently dismantled terror cell were planning to use the remote region to lie low after carrying out terror attacks in several regions across Morocco.

The cell was also preparing to release a video following the attacks to spread fear across the kingdom.

The mastermind of the cell attempted to join the IS in the Sahel region in 2016.

“It did not work,” Khiam said.

He added that the cell’s leader was in contact with ISIS on Facebook and Instagram. According to the Khiam, the mastermind began his terror plots in Morocco after failing to reach ISIS in the Sahel.

Source: Morocco World News