Rabat – Morocco’s Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) arrested a suspect with links to the self-proclaimed Islmaic State (ISIS) on Saturday, December 14 in Meknes.
The BCIJ carried out the arrest in coordination with the judicial police of the city of Meknes, a statement from the BCIJ said on December 15.
Preliminary investigations, according to the statement, confirm the involvement of the suspect, described as a “41-year-old extremist,” in promoting the “extremist ideology of ISIS.”
He was also “seeking to get more information and experiences, especially those related to how to use weapons,” added the same source.
The BCIJ said that the suspect was plotting a suicide operation to cause “massive damage.”
Security services seized electronic devices as well as manuscripts related to materials used in preparing explosives.
Police put the suspect in custody for further investigations. Terror suspects traditionally receive sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years in prison.
The operation is part of Morocco’s “comprehensive” approach against terror-related crimes and threats.
Throughout the year, Morocco’s BCIJ dismantled several ISIS-linked cells, arrestesting numerous terror suspects.
The latest opera arrest operation took place on November 26 in Sale. The BCIJ arrested a suspect for promoting ISIS destructive ideology on social media.
The suspect was inciting terror acts by ISIS “lone wolves.” He also recorded an audio message in which he explained “the methods of manufacturing explosives and explosive belts,” the BCIJ said.
