Reuters
Asharq Al-Awsat
A Moroccan policeman stands guard at the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation office in Sale. [Reuters]
Rabat- Moroccan police have arrested six people on suspicion of belonging to the ISIS terrorist organization in the cities and towns of Casablanca, Tangier, Tetouan, Marrakesh and Safi.
The preliminary investigation found that the suspects have promoted for ISIS and vowed to carry out terrorist attacks in Morocco, the interior ministry announced on Wednesday.
Some of the detainees with ties to militants in Syria and Iraq have acquired bomb-making and booby-trapping skills for the purpose of carrying out attacks on vital installations, entertainment facilities and popular areas in several Moroccan cities, the German news agency said.
Bomb-making material, including electronic devices, electric cables, gloves and masks, were confiscated in the raids. Police also found knives and transcripts calling for the murder of non-ISIS members.
The arrest of the six suspects came days after the interior ministry announced that the authorities in Morocco and Spain had dismantled a “terrorist cell” of three ISIS supporters.
It said one of the jihadist suspects was arrested in Tangier, and the other two were detained in Spain.
The ministry said the three-man cell had been in “close contact” with ISIS in Iraq and Syria and was recruiting volunteers to join the jihadist ranks.
Last month, Moroccan security forces announced the dismantling of a seven-member terrorist cell active in the cities of Fes and Moulay Yacoub.
