Moroccan authorities handed essential data to US on American soldier facing terrorism charges

Morocco’s General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST) provided the US with essential data on American soldier James Bridges, who was recently arrested for attempting to assist ISIS in attacking US troops.

On January 19, the US States Department of Justice announced the arrest of Bridges, emphasizing that the soldier provided “tactical guidance to attempt to help ISIS to attack American forces in the Middle East.”

“As alleged, Cole Bridges betrayed the oath he swore to defend the United States by attempting to provide ISIS with tactical military advice to ambush and kill his fellow service members. Our troops risk their lives for our country, but they should never face such peril at the hands of one of their own,” US Attorney Audrey Strauss said.

Bridges is also believed to have provided training to ISIS fighters who were planning attacks, including advice about potential targets in New York City, such as the 9/11 Memorial.

On Monday, News Talk Florida quoted a Moroccan source, who revealed that US and Moroccan officials discussed the case of Bridges before his arrest.

Morocco’s DGST brought the case to the attention of the US in September 2020, according to the news outlet.

Moroccan state media confirmed the news on Tuesday, saying that DGST provided the FBI with crucial data regarding the arrested soldier.

Haboub Cherkaoui, the chief of Morocco’s Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation (BCIJ), said the American soldier attracted Moroccan intelligence’s attention for his online activities since last summer.

In an interview on January 24, the BCIJ chief said that Rabat’s security services usually provide crucial intelligence to their American counterparts.

“Morocco provided the US with information regarding the Khalden training camp, one of Osama bin Laden’s main military training camps in Afghanistan,” Habboub said. “The information allowed the bombing of the camp.”

Source: Morocco World News