Latest news with #CentralBureauofJudicialInvestigations
Euronews
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Morocco thwarts terror plot by cell linked to Islamic State in the Sahel
Moroccan authorities have arrested a dozen people they said were planning attacks on behalf of the so-called Islamic State in the Sahel group. The discovery of the 12-member cell and what officials called an "imminent dangerous terrorist plot" underscores the expanding ambitions of extremist groups in the region. Authorities said the suspects had planned to detonate bombs remotely, but did not give details of their motives or wider plot. Images released by officials showed weapons stockpiles found during police raids, IS flags, and thousands of dollars of cash. "Morocco remains a major target in the agenda of all terrorist organisations operating in the Sahel," Habboub Cherkaoui, the head of Morocco's Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations, said on Monday. Militant groups linked to IS and al-Qaeda have been expanding their presence in the Sahel, capitalising on instability in countries including Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Since French troops began withdrawing from the region in 2022, IS in the Sahel has launched deadly campaigns and taken control of lucrative transit routes. Authorities said the Morocco-based cell called itself the "Lions of the Caliphate in the Maghreb" and took direction from IS in the Sahel's commanders. More than a year of tracking done by Moroccan officials showed that these commanders worked to recruit, arm and direct sympathisers to carry out attacks in the country. Investigators said the 12 suspects, aged 18 to 40, were arrested in nine different cities, including Casablanca, Fez and Tangier. They had been receiving orders from the Libyan commander Abderrahmane Sahraoui, who oversees IS's operations outside the Sahel, according to officials. The suspects have not yet been charged under Morocco's anti-terrorism laws. Following the raids last week, authorities located a cache of weapons in the desert near Morocco's border with Algeria, including firearms and ammunition wrapped in newspapers printed in Mali in late January. Cherkaoui said the raids revealed that IS in the Sahel aimed to expand and establish operations in Morocco or recruit Moroccans to fight abroad, including in Somalia. He said the groups "do not hide their desire to target Morocco through propaganda platforms" and said the nation's aggressive counterterrorism posture made it a target. The last jihadist attack in Morocco was in 2023, when three individuals loyal to IS killed a policeman in Casablanca.
Ya Biladi
25-02-2025
- Ya Biladi
ISIS leader in the Sahel behind foiled terror plot in Morocco
Investigations and monitoring of the recently dismantled terrorist cell, named «The Lions of the Khilafa of Maghreb Al Aqsa» by its members, lasted nearly a year, said Cherkaoui Habboub, Director of the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ), on Monday in Salé. Speaking at a press briefing, the official stated that these operations had led to the arrest of 12 suspects in various towns, including Laâyoune, Casablanca, Fès, Taounate, Tangier, Azemmour, Guercif, Oulad Teima, and Tamesna (a suburb of Rabat). These individuals had recently been scouting potential targets in several Moroccan cities. Habboub added that, based on information from the Direction générale de la surveillance du territoire (DGST), the BCIJ successfully foiled an extremely serious terrorist plan targeting Morocco, masterminded by a senior ISIS leader in the Sahel region, named «Abderrahmane Assahraoui», of Libyan nationality. The searches carried out during this operation led to the seizure of a large quantity of equipment and materials used in preparing a large-scale terrorist attack. This included explosive devices ready for detonation, suspicious substances used to make explosives, and edged weapons. Preliminary technical investigations revealed that some members of the cell held GPS coordinates and specific addresses tied to a weapons and ammunition cache intended for the group to execute its plans. The cache was located in the province of Errachidia, on the eastern bank of Oued Guir at Tel Mzil, in the commune and district of Oued N'aam, near the Boudnib region, along the Oriental border line. Mapping and combing operations revealed that this cache was located at the base of a rocky outcrop, difficult to access. This required deploying suitable logistical resources, activating the security protocol for terrorist threats, and mobilizing explosives-detecting dog units, metal detectors, suspicious substance detection devices, robots, and an x-ray scanning system. After about three hours of search and combing, a cargo of weapons and ammunition was discovered buried in an isolated area at the foot of the rocky terrain. According to the BCIJ director, the seized weapons included two Kalashnikov rifles with magazines, two shotguns, ten pistols of various calibers, a large quantity of cartridges and ammunition, all packed in plastic bags, as well as newspapers from Mali, including weeklies dated January 15 and 27, 2025. Ballistics tests carried out by experts from the Sûreté Nationale's Institute of Forensic Sciences confirmed that the weapons were operational and had been intentionally modified by erasing their serial numbers to conceal their origin. Additionally, some weapon barrels had been shortened to facilitate concealment and transport. Ongoing investigations suggest that these weapons and materials were supplied by Abderrahmane Assahraoui, a senior Daech official from the Sahel region, who coordinated with smuggling networks to supply the arsenal to the terrorist cell members. Thanks to the vigilance of security services, these weapons were seized, preventing a potential catastrophe had the cell managed to acquire them.
The Independent
24-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Morocco says it dismantled Islamic State cell that was planning attacks
Moroccan authorities this month arrested a dozen people they said were planning attacks on behalf of the Islamic State in the Sahel, a region south of the Sahara Desert, officials said Monday. The discovery of the terrorist cell and what authorities called an 'imminent dangerous terrorist plot' reflect the expanding ambitions of extremist groups in the region. Authorities did not provide details of the plot or motivations of those arrested, but released photographs and videos showing officers raiding terrorist cells throughout the country. The images showed weapons stockpiles found during police raids, Islamic State flags drawn on walls, and thousands of dollars of cash. 'Morocco remains a major target in the agenda of all terrorist organizations operating in the Sahel,' Habboub Cherkaoui, the head of Morocco's Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations, said at a news conference. Militant groups have been expanding their presence in the Sahel, capitalizing on instability in countries including Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Since French troops began withdrawing almost two years ago, the Islamic State in the Sahel has launched deadly campaigns and taken control of lucrative transit routes. Groups like Islamic State in the Sahel have found support in impoverished communities that feel neglected by their governments. Their growth has destabilized and in several cases contributed to the overthrow of elected leaders. It has alarmed neighboring states — including in North Africa and coastal west Africa — and worried western powers concerned about militant groups using their regional bases to orchestrate violence elsewhere. Authorities said the Morocco-based cell called itself "the Lions of the Caliphate in the Maghreb' and took direction from Islamic State in the Sahel commanders. More than a year of tracking done by Morocco's General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance showed Islamic State in the Sahel commanders worked to recruit, arm and direct sympathizers to carry out attacks in Morocco. The weapons found include materials to make explosives including nail bombs, dynamite and gas cylinders as well as knives, rifles and hand guns whose serial numbers had been scratched off. Investigators said the 12 men arrested ranged from 18 to 40 years old and were apprehended in nine different cities, including Casablanca, Fez and Tangier. The majority were unmarried and had not finished high school. They have not yet been charged under Morocco's anti-terrorism laws. Based on materials gathered in raids last week, authorities were able to locate a cache of weapons in the desert near Morocco's border with Algeria, including firearms and ammunition wrapped in newspapers printed in Mali in late January. Authorities said the suspects arrested this month had maintained ties to Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, a militant leader born in the Morocco-controlled Western Sahara who was killed by French forces in 2021. In the years since, they took direction from the Libyan commander Abderrahmane Sahraoui, who oversees the group's operations outside the Sahel. Episodes of violence would be particularly damaging in Morocco, where the economy relies heavily on tourism. More than 17 million people visited the North African Kingdom last year and the tourism industry makes up more than 7% of its GDP. Morocco is the only in North Africa not to have experienced a major terrorist attack for more than a decade. But its security services regularly underscore that the threat remains and claim attacks are regularly foiled when terrorist cells are dismantled. They have in recent years dismantled 40 such cells, including one as recently as January. Cherkaoui said the operation revealed that Islamic State in the Sahel Sahel aimed to expand and establish operations in Morocco or recruit Moroccans to fight abroad, including most recently in Somalia. He said the groups 'do not hide their desire to target Morocco through propaganda platforms' and said Morocco's aggressive counterterrorism posture made it a target. Morocco has worked to present itself as a regional leader in combatting violent extremism, forging deeper ties with new governments throughout the Sahel, including Mali, with which signed a joint military cooperation agreement last month. __ Associated Press reporters Baba Ahmed and Akram Oubachir contributed reporting from Bamako, Mali and Casablanca, Morocco.
Associated Press
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Morocco says it dismantled Islamic State cell that was planning attacks
SALE, Morocco (AP) — Moroccan authorities this month arrested a dozen people they said were planning attacks on behalf of the Islamic State in the Sahel, a region south of the Sahara Desert, officials said Monday. The discovery of the terrorist cell and what authorities called an 'imminent dangerous terrorist plot' reflect the expanding ambitions of extremist groups in the region. Authorities did not provide details of the plot or motivations of those arrested, but released photographs and videos showing officers raiding terrorist cells throughout the country. The images showed weapons stockpiles found during police raids, Islamic State flags drawn on walls, and thousands of dollars of cash. 'Morocco remains a major target in the agenda of all terrorist organizations operating in the Sahel,' Habboub Cherkaoui, the head of Morocco's Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations, said at a news conference. Militant groups have been expanding their presence in the Sahel, capitalizing on instability in countries including Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Since French troops began withdrawing almost two years ago, the Islamic State in the Sahel has launched deadly campaigns and taken control of lucrative transit routes. Groups like Islamic State in the Sahel have found support in impoverished communities that feel neglected by their governments. Their growth has destabilized and in several cases contributed to the overthrow of elected leaders. It has alarmed neighboring states — including in North Africa and coastal west Africa — and worried western powers concerned about militant groups using their regional bases to orchestrate violence elsewhere. Authorities said the Morocco-based cell called itself 'the Lions of the Caliphate in the Maghreb' and took direction from Islamic State in the Sahel commanders. More than a year of tracking done by Morocco's General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance showed Islamic State in the Sahel commanders worked to recruit, arm and direct sympathizers to carry out attacks in Morocco. The weapons found include materials to make explosives including nail bombs, dynamite and gas cylinders as well as knives, rifles and hand guns whose serial numbers had been scratched off. Investigators said the 12 men arrested ranged from 18 to 40 years old and were apprehended in nine different cities, including Casablanca, Fez and Tangier. The majority were unmarried and had not finished high school. They have not yet been charged under Morocco's anti-terrorism laws. Based on materials gathered in raids last week, authorities were able to locate a cache of weapons in the desert near Morocco's border with Algeria, including firearms and ammunition wrapped in newspapers printed in Mali in late January. Authorities said the suspects arrested this month had maintained ties to Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, a militant leader born in the Morocco-controlled Western Sahara who was killed by French forces in 2021. In the years since, they took direction from the Libyan commander Abderrahmane Sahraoui, who oversees the group's operations outside the Sahel. Episodes of violence would be particularly damaging in Morocco, where the economy relies heavily on tourism. More than 17 million people visited the North African Kingdom last year and the tourism industry makes up more than 7% of its GDP. Morocco is the only in North Africa not to have experienced a major terrorist attack for more than a decade. But its security services regularly underscore that the threat remains and claim attacks are regularly foiled when terrorist cells are dismantled. They have in recent years dismantled 40 such cells, including one as recently as January. Cherkaoui said the operation revealed that Islamic State in the Sahel Sahel aimed to expand and establish operations in Morocco or recruit Moroccans to fight abroad, including most recently in Somalia. He said the groups 'do not hide their desire to target Morocco through propaganda platforms' and said Morocco's aggressive counterterrorism posture made it a target. Morocco has worked to present itself as a regional leader in combatting violent extremism, forging deeper ties with new governments throughout the Sahel, including Mali, with which signed a joint military cooperation agreement last month.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Morocco foils attacks by cell loyal to Islamic State
By Ahmed Eljechtimi RABAT (Reuters) - Morocco's counterterrorism agency said on Monday it had foiled attacks against national and international targets in the country by a 12-member cell loyal to Islamic State in the Sahel. The operation underscores the threat emanating from jihadist militancy in the Sahel, as groups linked to Islamic State and al Qaeda expand activity in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. The suspects, arrested in nine different cities, had been receiving orders from a Libyan leader of Islamic State, the head of Morocco's Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations, Habboub Cherkaoui, told reporters. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. The suspects, aged 18 to 40, have been radicalised online, Cherkaoui said, adding that most of them had "occasional jobs". The group, which branded itself "the Lions of the Caliphate in the Maghreb Al Aqsa (Morocco)", was planning remotely controlled bomb attacks, he said. Explosive devices and chemical substances were found during the operation, in addition to a weapons cache including automatic firearms and handguns, in the south-eastern region of Errachidia near the Algerian borders, Cherkaoui said. The seized weapons and ammunition had been supplied by the IS leader via smugglers, he said. The operation "confirms that the African branches of IS tend to internationalise their activities", Cherkaoui said, adding that the nexus between "terrorist groups and criminal networks is a real threat" to Morocco and Europe. In recent years, IS branches in Africa have recruited more than 130 Moroccan fighters, Cherkaoui said. Since its establishment in 2015, the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations has dismantled dozens of militant cells and arrested more than 1,000 suspected jihadists. The last jihadist attack in the country was in 2023, when three individuals loyal to IS killed a Moroccan policeman in Casablanca.
