Morocco, Spain dismantle terrorist cell

RABAT – Morocco’s security services dismantled Wednesday, in coordination with Spanish intelligence services, an alleged terrorist cell with links to Islamic State terrorist group (also known as Daesh).

The Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) dismantled the terrorist cell, made up of three members who have pledged allegiance to the Daesh organization and active in Morocco and Spain.

The BCIJ said in a statement that this operation was carried out by the special forces of the General Directorate of National Territory Surveillance. 

A man was arrested in Chtouka Aït Baha in Morocco while Spanish authorities arrested two other members of the alleged cell in Almeria in Spain.

Research conducted as part of this operation reveals that the three suspects were working to spread the extremist ideas of Daesh to recruit potential supporters. They were also willing to take part in terrorist acts after the failure of their attempt to join the ranks of Daesh in the Sahel, where they were in contact with fighters of the organisation. 

In Chtouka Aït Baha, the searches carried out led to the seizure of a number of equipment, in particular digital equipment, which were submitted for technical expertise besides a bladed weapon, a mask and writings praising Daesh.

The person arrested in Morocco was taken into police custody as part of an investigation carried out under the supervision of the prosecutor's office in charge of terrorism cases, while the competent Iberian authorities are carrying out their investigations with the two other elements of the cell apprehended in Spain.

This operation, recalls the BCIJ in its press release, is part of the continuous efforts of coordination between the Moroccan and Spanish security services in order to neutralize any terrorist threat to which the two countries could be subject.