BCIJ Thwarts Terrorist Activities in Morocco
The Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) successfully disrupted a series of highly dangerous terrorist plots early Monday morning, thanks to precise intelligence provided by the Directorate General of Territorial Surveillance (DGST). These plots were orchestrated by extremists who received logistical and operational support from the terrorist group known as "Daesh" (ISIS) operating within the Sahel region. The intentions were to severely compromise public order and the safety of individuals and property in Morocco.
In a coordinated operation, special forces from the DGST executed simultaneous interventions and arrests across several Moroccan cities, including Agadir, Taroudant, Casablanca, El Hajeb, Tétouan, Fquih Ben Salah, and Safi. These actions were the culmination of extensive surveillance and investigations conducted by field officers dedicated to gathering and analyzing intelligence regarding this terrorist cell, as detailed in an official statement from the BCIJ.
As a result of these simultaneous field interventions, ten extremists were apprehended, all of whom are suspected of involvement in this terror project, which has connections to multiple cities across Morocco. Among those arrested were an individual previously incarcerated under anti-terrorism laws and a minor. Following the completion of the arrest operations, BCIJ officers commenced search operations at the residences of those detained, ensuring all legal formalities and procedural safeguards were adhered to, with the support of national police canine units. This led to the seizure of bladed weapons and materials intended for the execution of these terrorist plans.
The searches also revealed military uniforms and extremist manuscripts detailing the processes for constructing explosive devices. Additionally, digital media was confiscated, including two recordings that contained oaths of allegiance to "Daesh" and explicit threats to carry out subversive acts within Morocco.
Continuing their on-ground operations, investigators conducted a search at a warehouse in the city of Inezgane, where they discovered a modified 4x4 vehicle equipped to operate on butane gas, intended for use in a potential suicide attack or a vehicle-ramming assault targeting sensitive locations and installations. An immediate security protocol was initiated, resulting in the evacuation of residents living nearby the warehouse, prior to the intervention of a specialized bomb disposal team from the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN). This team conducted a thorough examination of the vehicle using remote-controlled robots and high-precision sensors to assess its level of danger.
Upon concluding their safety measures, crime scene investigators and judicial police officers were allowed to proceed with the necessary technical examinations of the suspicious vehicle and warehouse as part of the ongoing investigation. The warehouse search yielded a stockpile of butane gas canisters and pressure cookers, some filled with nails and others connected to electrical cables, along with a welding machine, electric switches, small bulbs, and various solid and liquid chemical substances, which will undergo technical and scientific analysis to determine their composition and intended use.
Intelligence reports, supplemented by on-site investigations and technical expertise, revealed that members of this terrorist cell had pledged allegiance to the so-called caliph of "Daesh". They had received recent directives and established direct contact with certain leaders of this organization in the Sahelo-Saharan region, urging them to remain in Morocco to execute its terrorist and subversive agenda while postponing plans to join the organization’s strongholds outside the Kingdom.
Further investigations have indicated that the "emir" of this terrorist cell organized the division of roles among its members following directives from "Daesh". This division involved assigning certain individuals the responsibility of selecting targets, while another group was tasked with reconnaissance and surveillance operations. A third faction was charged with acquiring the substances and materials necessary for executing their subversive plans.
The major suspects have been placed in police custody, while the minor is under supervision for the purposes of the judicial inquiry being conducted by the BCIJ, overseen by the prosecutor's office responsible for terrorism cases. This inquiry aims to deepen investigations with the suspects, identify their connections to the African branch of "Daesh" in the Sahelo-Saharan region, and determine the potential ramifications of this terrorist cell both nationally and internationally.
As reported by lesiteinfo.com.
