Rabat – The Central Bureau for Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) announced today the arrest of a 24-year old ISIS affiliated suspect in Sale, near Rabat.
A press release from BCIJ said that the suspect was arrested on suspicion of involvement in preparing a terrorist attack aimed at undermining public safety.
Preliminary investigation has shown that the suspect, who declared allegiance to the ISIS terrorist organization, had notably expressed interest in acquiring expertise in explosives manufacturing.
The arrested individual also established contacts with ISIS intermediaries to facilitate his joining affiliates of the terrorist group in the Sahel region– one of the hotspots known as a safe haven for terrorist groups.
Security services put the suspect in custody for further investigations to uncover all circumstances of the case and investigate his potential connection with different terrorist organizations.
The operation is part of Morocco’s counterterrorism approach, seeking to mitigate ISIS and other terror threats in the country and across the region.
Morocco has frequently stressed the importance of a joint collaboration with its regional partners to address the threats posed by ISIS and other terror organizations.
In July last year, Morocco called on the AU Peace and Security Council to prioritize a coordinated approach to address the growing threats of terrorism and violent extremism in the Sahel.
Speaking at an AU summit, a Moroccan delegation called for boosting continental and regional mechanisms to tackle shared security challenges. It urged the AU and the broader international community to step up their efforts and contribute to establishing peace and stability in the increasingly fragile Sahel region.
In 2022, BCIJ chief Habboub Cherkaoui echoed a similar sentiment, calling on the international community to adopt a shared responsibility mechanism to address insecurity in the Sahel.
He lamented the alarming presence of terror groups including ISIS in the region, emphasizing that the deepening terrorist threat in the Sahel is dangerous to both Africa and the nearby Arab and European countries.
