Assahafa.com
Morocco’s Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) foiled on Monday morning extremely dangerous terrorist plots at an advanced stage of preparation, involving extremists operating with logistical and operational support from the terrorist branch of “Daesh” in the Sahel region and aimed at seriously undermining public order and the safety of people and property.
Based on data provided by the Directorate General of Territorial Surveillance (DGST), special forces carried out simultaneous intervention and arrest operations in several Moroccan cities, namely Agadir, Taroudant, Casablanca, El Hajeb, Tetouan, Fquih Ben Salah, and Safi, following surveillance and investigative operations initiated by field officers tasked with gathering and analyzing intelligence regarding this terrorist cell, according to a statement from the BCIJ.
These simultaneous operations on the ground led to the arrest of ten extremists suspected of having ties to the execution of this terrorist plot, which extends to several cities in Morocco, the same source noted, adding that among those arrested were a former prisoner held under the anti-terrorism law and a minor.
As soon as the intervention and arrest operations were completed, BCIJ commissioners and officers began search operations at the residences of the arrested individuals, after completing all legal formalities and procedural safeguards, with the support of the National Security Service’s K-9 units, which resulted in seizing bladed weapons and equipment intended for committing these terrorist plots.
Searches also led to the seizure of military uniforms and extremist manuscripts detailing the methods for manufacturing explosive devices, in addition to digital media and visual content, including two recordings containing a pledge of allegiance to the “Daesh” organization and explicit threats to carry out subversive acts within Morocco.
As part of ongoing field operations, a raid conducted at a warehouse in the city of Inezgane led to the discovery of a 4×4 vehicle with a fuel tank modified to run on butane gas, with the intent of using it to carry out a terrorist act—either a suicide bombing or a vehicle-ramming attack—against sensitive targets and facilities.
A security protocol was immediately activated, calling for the evacuation of all residents living in the vicinity of the warehouse, prior to the intervention of a specialized bomb disposal team from the Directorate General of National Security (DGSN), which conducted a thorough examination of the vehicle using remote-controlled robots and high-precision sensors to assess its level of danger, according to the same source.
Following these measures, the crime scene team and judicial police officers were authorized to conduct technical examinations of the suspicious vehicle and the warehouse, as required by the investigation.
The search of the warehouse led to seizing a batch of butane gas cylinders and pressure cookers—some of which were filled with nails and others connected to electrical cables—as well as a welding machine, electrical switches, small light bulbs, and a batch of solid and liquid chemicals that will undergo technical and scientific analysis to uncover their composition and intended use.
Intelligence data, supported by field investigations and technical analyses, unveiled that members of this terrorist cell had pledged allegiance to the so-called caliph of the terrorist organization “Daesh,” the statement noted, adding that they had recently received guidelines and established direct contact with certain leaders of the organization’s branch in the Sahel-Saharan region, instructing them to remain in Morocco to carry out its terrorist and subversive agenda, while postponing their plans to join the organization’s strongholds outside the Kingdom.
Search and investigations conducted at this stage of the inquiry have also revealed that the “emir” of this terrorist cell assigned roles to its members, following directives from the “Daesh” organization, according to the same source. This division involved assigning certain members the task of selecting targets, while another group was tasked with location, reconnaissance, and surveillance operations. A third group was responsible for acquiring the substances and equipment necessary to conduct their subversive plans.
The adult suspects have been taken into custody, while the minor has been placed under judicial supervision as part of the investigation conducted by the BCIJ under the oversight of the prosecutor’s office in charge of terrorism cases. The investigation seeks to shed further light on suspects’ alleged links to the African branch of the “Daesh” organization in the Sahel-Saharan region, and to determine the potential national and international ramifications of this terrorist cell.
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