Morocco Arrests 25 Terrorism Suspects Linked to ISIS

Arab World

December 20th, 8:20am

Asharq Al-Awsat

Moroccan special forces stand guard at the entrance of a building during a counter-terrorism operation in Temara, on the outskirts of Rabat, Morocco September 10, 2020. REUTERS/Youssef Boudlal/File Photo

Moroccan security forces arrested 25 people this month on suspicion of supporting ISIS and planning “terrorist” attacks in the kingdom, a security source has told AFP. The arrests took place in several cities on December 8 as part of “ongoing efforts to fight terrorist dangers,” the source said on condition of anonymity. Some of the suspects have already been referred to the judiciary, the source added. Moroccan news outlets had reported a nationwide counter-terror operation on December 8 — the largest of its kind in recent years — but official sources had not confirmed the crackdown. Reports on Saturday said that during the operations, authorities seized weapons including firearms and ammunition, as well as documents on bomb-making and material “glorifying ISIS.” They said investigations revealed the suspects were planning to carry out “specific” terrorist attacks inside Morocco. Counter-terrorism police said Friday that they had thwarted a suspected ISIS bomb plot and arrested an alleged supporter of the group, in cooperation with US intelligence services. The security source told AFP the operation had “no connection” to the arrests earlier this month.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3369001/morocco-arrests-25-terrorism-suspects-linked-isis