Rabat – Morocco’s Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation (BCIJ) dismantled two ISIS-linked terror cells in Dar Bouazza near Casablanca and Chefchaouenon on Friday, October 25.
The first operation took place in Dar Bouazza, a coastal town in the Casablanca-Settat region.
The BCIJ seized weapons including knives, ammunition, and materials used to manufacture explosives. The security services also confiscated ISIS flags during the operation.
BCIJ arrested two suspects aged 26 and 27 during the same operation, according to Moroccan television channel 2M.
The second operation took place in an informal township called “douar Bouabid” in Dar Bouazza. During the operation, the BCIJ staff arrested a third suspect aged 20 years.
The BCIJ arrested two more ISIS-linked suspects in Chefchaouen on Friday, October 25. The two suspects have links to ISIS.
#Terrorisme
Seconde intervention des éléments du #BCIJ à Douar Benaabid à #DarBouazza dans le cadre d’une opération antiterroriste menée en ce moment même. Un 3ème suspect neutralisé #Maroc .Source : journaliste 2M sur place pic.twitter.com/y03zs15eUc
— 2M.ma (@2MInteractive) October 25, 2019
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The suspects were plotting attacks in Casablanca and Ouazzane, northern Morocco.
2M reported that the BCIJ staff arrested six suspects in total during the three operations.
Morocco’s BCIJ dismantled dozens of cells throughout the year. The latest operation took place on September 5, when the BCIJ members dismantled a 5 member terrorist cell linked to ISIS in Nador and Berkan, two cities in Eastern Morocco.
Morocco’s BCIJ conducted several similar operations as part of Morocco’s strategy to counter terrorism, dubbed successful by many international partners including the US.
Morocco introduced the BCIJ in 2015 to monitor security threats across the country. The BCIJ also assist foreign security agencies to combat terrorism.
Last year, the US Department of State report on Country Reports on Terrorism said that Morocco assisted the Spanish investigation following the August 2018 attacks in Barcelona.
