Morocco dismantles suspected terrorist cell

RABAT - Morocco’s anti-terror forces dismantled on Thursday a suspected terrorist cell with ties to Islamic State group (Daesh) for their alleged involvement in the preparation of terrorist plans aimed at seriously undermining public order, according to the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ).

The security forces arrested three suspects, aged between 19 and 28, in Souk El Arbaa du Gharb, Tetouan and Larache in separate and simultaneous operations.

The searches carried out in the homes of those arrested led to the seizure of bladed weapons, a number of manuscripts advocating the extremist thought of "Daesh" and inciting violence, as well as written publications retracing the terrorist activities of the groups under "Daesh" in the Sahel region, in addition to digital materials and media that will be subject to the necessary technical expertise, said the BCIJ in a statement.

Preliminary information from the investigation reveals that the defendants, who declared their "allegiance" to the terrorist organization "Daesh", were planning the execution of a series of dangerous terrorist projects. To this end, they have prepared several digital contents relating to their terrorist plans.

The investigations also revealed that the arrested suspects intended to flee Morocco to join "Daesh" camps in the Sahel region, after carrying out their terrorist plans, in coordination and with the help of one of the elements affiliated with this terrorist organization.

The arrest of these suspects comes in a context marked by the rise of the terrorist threat and the desire of global terrorist organizations and their regional subsidiaries to increase their subversive operations, the statement concluded.