Rabat – Moroccan security services, in cooperation with Spanish and Moroccan intelligence services, have arrested a Moroccan terror suspect, who was allegedly planning a terror attack in Seville, southern Spain.
The Spanish Ministry of the Interior announced on Wednesday that the national police and the Spanish and Moroccan intelligence services “carried out an anti-terrorist operation, which resulted in the arrest in Morocco of an alleged jihadist who planned to carry out an attack in Seville.”
Spanish police also raided the suspect’s house in Seville. Euro News said that the suspect was planning to carry out an attack during Easter celebrations in Seville, according to anonymous sources.
Spain and Morocco share a strong track record on anti-terrorist cooperation.
In September 2018, Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell said their cooperation “is an example to follow for other countries,” as the globe struggles to confront terrorist movements at home and abroad.
The same sentiment was shared by Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita, who said that the two countries have an “exemplary” partnership in the fight against terrorism.
He added that their cooperation is “a model of inter-regional cooperation.”
In addition to Spain, the US and France also have counterterrorism partnerships with Morocco.
Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) reported in 2018 that Morocco’s security agents are “playing a central role in Europe’s efforts to counter ISIS terrorism.”
The organization also said that Morocco’s security services helped Morocco to avoid terror attacks, which increased sharply in the Maghreb region.
AOAV’s remarks on Morocco’s efforts were also echoed by other reports, including from the US Department of State, which touted Morocco’s counterterrorism cooperation with the US.
