Five suspected extremists arrested in Morocco

RABAT - The Central Bureau for Judicial Investigations (BCIJ), supported by elements of the special forces under the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST), arrested, Wednesday morning, five extremists affiliated to the terrorist organization "Islamic State", aged between 21 and 44, over their alleged involvement in planning for the execution of destructive projects within the framework of so-called individual terrorist operations.

The suspects were arrested in separate and simultaneous security operations in Kenitra, Larache, Souk Sebt Ouled Nemma, Taroudant and the rural commune of Souihla (Marrakech prefecture), as part of the ongoing efforts undertaken by the DGST services to neutralize and abort terrorist plans and projects that threaten the security of the country and citizens, says a statement issued by the BCIJ.

Searches carried out at the homes of those arrested led to the seizure of electronic materials and media, which will be subject to technical and digital expertise to determine their content, said the same source, adding that manuscripts praising the terrorist organization Islamic State were also seized, including a manuscript listing products and elements used in the manufacture of explosive devices, in addition to bladed weapons of different sizes.

According to preliminary investigations, the five extremists affiliated to the terrorist organization of “Islamic State” are involved in the incitement and the preparation of the execution of terrorist projects and have undertaken the collection of extremist content on the manufacturing of explosive devices.

They also praised the physical liquidation and mutilation of corpses as adopted by the Islamic State terrorist organization, in addition to the extremist takfirist ideas of society and representatives of public authority and approving the spoils of terrorist operations.

According to the statement, the suspects had identified the terrorist targets specific to each of them, which all overlap in the method and techniques of individual terrorism being summarized in the targeting of security and military sites and government installations.

They also planned physical liquidations against elements of the public forces and members of government departments, in addition to targeting financial and banking establishments in order to ensure the resources and financing necessary for terrorist operations.

The suspects were taken into custody pending the judicial investigation conducted by the BCIJ under the supervision of the prosecutor's office in charge of terrorism cases, with a view to highlighting the terrorist projects prepared by each of them and determine the possible ramifications with other terrorist cells and organizations active in Morocco and abroad.