Imminent terrorist plan foiled in Morocco

RABAT – Morocco’s security services foiled Wednesday an imminent terrorist plan following the dismantling of 'an extremist cell active affiliated with the Islamic State terrorist group in the city of Tangier.

The Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) arrested five terrorist suspects aged between 22 and 28 years, who pledged allegiance to the IS also known as "Daesh."

The dismantling of this terrorist cell and the failure of its extremist projects are part of the continuous efforts of the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST) in the fight against terrorist organizations and neutralize the dangers and threats that threaten the security of the Kingdom and the security of citizens, said a statement from the BCIJ.

The intervention operations, carried out simultaneously in Tangier by the DGST’s Special Force, allowed the arrest of the alleged “emir” of this terrorist cell which opposed fierce resistance, forcing the elements of intervention to fire warning sound bombs to neutralize the danger, according to the same source.

According to the first elements of the investigation, the members of this suspected terrorist cell joined a recruitment campaign to strengthen their ranks, just as they acquired several products used in the manufacture of homemade explosive devices, after an internal subscription operation to collect the necessary funds, in anticipation of committing remote explosion operations to target headquarters and security figures, as well as public places welcoming Moroccan and foreign citizens.

To manufacture the devices and explosives, the terrorist cell relied on the technical training of one of its members as a technician specializing in electricity and working in the field of installing cameras, who carried out simulations on the manufacture of explosives based on techniques and applications available on some extremist websites, said the BCIJ.

The first elements of the investigation also revealed that the emir of this terrorist cell has made several contacts with top "Daesh" leaders in the sub-Saharan region in order to guarantee the necessary resources for financing of its terrorist projects and to ensure the supply of weapons and other logistical equipment necessary for terrorist operations.

The dismantling of this terrorist cell shows once again the persistence of the terrorist threat through the attempts of certain extremist organizations to carry out destructive operations capable of seriously undermining public order, said the BCIJ.

 It also confirms the full readiness of the Moroccan security services to face these dangers and threats in order to preserve the safety of the homeland and the security of citizens, it concluded.