Morocco arrests IS-linked student

CASABLANCA - Moroccan security forces arrested in the city of Mohammedia Saturday an engineering student suspected of planning and preparing a terrorist attack in the North African country.

On the basis of precise information provided by the services of the Directorate-General for National Territorial Surveillance, The Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations arrested (BCIJ) the suspect who was planning and preparing a terrorist attack using an explosive belt and his alleged allegiance to the Islamic State terrorist group, said a statement from the BCIJ.

The searches carried out in the room occupied by the supect allowed the seizure of computer equipment consisting of a laptop, two mobile phones, electronic chips, two memory cards, two hard disks and several CDs, which are subject to technical expertise.

The operation also resulted in the seizure of other suspicious materials, namely, snorkel gear, underwater bow, wooden baton, electrical cables, voltmeter, solder and light bulbs, in addition to a ribbon adhesive, according to the same source.

The suspect was placed in custody pending the investigation conducted under the supervision of the Prosecutor's Office for Terrorism, to find out whether the suspect had possible links with a another terrorist plan, in Morocco or abroad, the statement concluded.