Morocco’s Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations, supported by members of the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST) Special Force, arrested five pro-ISIS extremists in separate simultaneous security operations in several cities and towns on Wednesday.
The suspects, aged between 21 and 44 years old, are accused of plotting terror activities to undermine Morocco’s security and stability, read a statement by the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ).
They were arrested in Kenitra, near Rabat, Larache, in northern Morocco, Souk Sebt Ouled Nemma (Beni Mellal-Khenifra region), Taroudant, and the rural commune of Souihla in the Marrakech province.
Security services seized electronic devices as well as knives, manuscripts promoting the extremist ideology and documents listing products and elements used in manufacturing explosive devices.
According to preliminary investigations, the five extremists who praised ISIS’s physical eradication method and adopted its extremist ideology, are involved in incitement and preparing to carry out terrorist acts.
The suspects were targeting security and military sites, as well as government headquarters and planning to murder government members, the statement noted.
BCIJ placed the suspects in custody for further investigation to identify all terrorist acts prepared and planned by each one of them.
The probe also aims to determine the possible links between the arrested suspects and other terrorist cells active in Morocco and abroad.
