In a significant counter-terrorism operation, Moroccan security forces reported on Monday that they successfully thwarted multiple "terrorist plots" and apprehended ten suspects across seven different cities. These individuals are suspected of being connected to a cell affiliated with the notorious ISIS/Daesh terror group. The Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations, operating under the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance, relayed that these plots posed a severe threat to public order as well as the safety of both individuals and property within the nation.
The arrests were made during synchronized operations conducted in notable cities including Agadir, Taroudant, Tetouan, El Hajeb, Fquih Ben Salah, Casablanca, and Safi. Authorities indicated that the suspects had allegedly been receiving support and guidance from the ISIS affiliate based in the Sahel region. Among those detained were a former convict related to terrorism and a minor, highlighting the diverse demographic involved in this alarming scenario.
According to the bureau, these suspects had been in direct communication with leaders of the ISIS branch in the Sahel, who instructed them to remain in Morocco to execute the group's agenda while delaying any plans to travel to ISIS strongholds abroad. Subsequent searches of the suspects' locations yielded an array of incriminating items, including military-style clothing, extremist literature detailing the assembly of explosive devices, digital storage devices, and visual materials. Notably, two recordings were found that contained pledges of allegiance to ISIS and explicit threats regarding planned attacks within Moroccan territory.
Moreover, authorities confiscated bladed weapons and various equipment believed to be intended for use in these planned assaults. In a shocking discovery in the city of Inezgane, investigators uncovered a sport utility vehicle that had been modified in a clandestine workshop to run on butane gas. This vehicle was reportedly intended for use in either a suicide bombing or a vehicle-ramming attack targeting sensitive facilities, underscoring the severity of the threats posed by this group.
The investigation is being conducted under the oversight of Morocco's prosecutor for terrorism cases. While the adult suspects have been placed in custody, the minor is currently under judicial supervision as investigators delve deeper into the cell's connections to the ISIS Sahel affiliate and explore any potential national or international ties. The Sahel branch of ISIS is notorious for its active involvement in various attacks across West Africa, making these developments particularly alarming.
Morocco has a history of dismantling suspected extremist cells, claiming to have disrupted over 200 terrorist cells since 2003, reflecting the country's ongoing commitment to national security and counter-terrorism efforts.
As reported by aa.com.tr.
