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Rabat – The terrorist cell dismantled Thursday planned to attack sensitive locations to undermine the national economy, a source close to the investigation said Saturday, according to Maghreb Arab Press (MAP).
The targets included the “Morocco Mall” shopping center in Casablanca, and the headquarters of the Chérifien Office of Phosphates (OCP) and the Moroccan Office of Tobacco, also in Casablanca.
These sites were among a series of targets to be attacked by the terrorists, “using firearms and bomb attacks prior to the establishment of a governorate that swears allegiance to the Islamic state,” according to the same source.
The terrorist cell also reportedly intended to carry out terrorist attacks against the Moroccan tourism industry, including hotel establishments such as “Sofitel” and “Al Madina” in Essaouira. Its 10 members planned to murder Western tourists in the city, to assassinate high public civil and military officials, to attack military barracks, especially in Meknes and Marrakech to seize firearms, as well as attack military units deployed at the Moroccan-Algerian border and police officers to take their weapons.
A minor arrested in the operation was reported to have been recruited and indoctrinated by the leader of the terrorist cell to whom he had sworn allegiance and to car bomb a sensitive site, according to the same source.
The minor, who was apparently determined to die as a “martyr,” was planning to infiltrate Parliament wearing an explosive belt to carry out a suicide attack.
The cell members had already identified a site in southern Morocco to be used as a training camp.
The Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation (BCIJ) under the Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (S & T Branch), dismantled the 10-member terrorist cell on Thursday and seized weapons and ammunition. The members of this cell, which included a French national, were active in Essaouira, Meknes and Sidi Kacem.
