Tag Archives: Morocco

Salafists demonstrated in Casablanca, calling for the release of Islamists linked to suicide bombings in the city in 2003. One of the protest organizers said that of some 1,000 Islamists currently imprisoned in Morocco, about 400 were detained after the Casablanca bombings and the remainder were jailed after coming back from fighting in Syria.

Police announced the dismantling of a terrorist cell involved in funneling Moroccan fighters to al Qaeda-linked forces in Syria, including the Al Nusrah Front, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham, and Sham al Islam. The cell members, who operated in a number of Moroccan cities, are being held while the investigation continues.

Security forces have dismantled a terrorist criminal network in Fez and Sefrou that used fraud and forgery to finance al Qaeda activities in Syria. The network was headed by an al Qaeda recruiter and included two known terrorists.

Morocco has begun requiring visas for visitors from Libya as a “security precaution,” following the recent arrests of more than 105 Libyan visitors with fake passports; most of those arrested were not Arabs, and some had previously been banned from entering Morocco. The parliament is considering legislation that would criminalize takfir and incitement to violence, […]

The public prosecutor referred to 45 recently arrested members of the terrorist group Sham al-Islam, which was formed by Brahim Benchekroune and Mohamed Maz to recruit and train Moroccan jihadists for combat in Syria and attacks in Morocco. Other Moroccan Salafists, including former bin Laden bodyguard Abdellah Tabark, are also thought to have gone to […]

Authorities announced results of the Dec. 25 arrest of 18 members of a terrorist cell that sent fighters to Syria. One of the detainees admitted to preparing a bomb for a terrorist attack in Morocco. Bombs, swords, knives, gas masks, and military uniforms were found in the homes of the detainees along with al Qaeda […]

The Interior Ministry said security forces dismantled a terrorist network and arrested a previously detained suspect who coordinates operations nationwide, including recruitment of militants and fundraising. Earlier this month Morocco and France agreed to further develop their counterterrorism cooperation.