Morocco arrests seven terror suspects

The Moroccan security services have arrested seven people with suspected links to the ISIS terrorist group, the Moroccan Interior Ministry announced in a statement on Thursday. The suspects, aged between 22 and 32, were operating in the cities of Marrakech, Zaouiat Cheikh and Oulad Teima, the statement noted.

According to the preliminary investigations, the arrested were propagating ISIS extremist ideology and were recruiting young people to join ISIS with the aim of conducting terrorist attacks in the kingdom at the request of an ISIS leader, the ministry pointed out.

The arrested are linked to another ISIS cell busted last October in the northern city of Fez, the same source added. During the police raids, electronic devices, knives and ISIS documents were seized, it said.

Morocco’s anti-terrorism bureau announced on Oct. 14 the dismantling of a terrorist cell consisting of 11 pro-ISIS members. This operation led to arresting the mastermind of the terrorist cell and his partner. Firearms, ammunition, knives, gas canisters and chemical products used in bomb-making were seized.

Head of Morocco’s anti-terrorism bureau Abdelhak El Khiam revealed that since 2015, 815 terrorists were arrested and referred to the judiciary, and 186 terrorists were arrested in 2017. He added that since the formation of Morocco’s anti-terrorism bureau, 21 terrorist cells were dismantled in 2015, 19 in 2016 and 9 in 2017.

Source: Aawsat