Moroccan authorities announced on Wednesday the arrest of five jihadists who were preparing terrorist attacks in the country. Aged between 20 and 45, members of the ISIS cell were active in the “Habata Benmansour” village in Kenitra, Sidi Yahya Zaer (near Rabat), Dchira in Inzegane Ait Melloul, commune of Bouaboud (province of Chichaoua).
All the five men were planning to carry out separately attacks using explosives targeting strategic sites, law enforcement agents and security institutions in the kingdom.
The police searched their premises and found a rifle, ammunition, bladed weapons and digital materials. The preliminary probe showed that some of the nabbed extremists were attempting to make explosive devices.
The dismantling of this cell shows that Morocco is still targeted by terrorist networks seeking to undermine the country’s peace and stability.
Morocco has developed a comprehensive counterterrorism strategy which aims at addressing different components of the terrorist threat through security, socio-economic development policies as well as supporting the religious field.
The strategy also includes vigilant security measures, regional and international cooperation and terrorist counter-radicalization policies.