Rabat – Morocco’s Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) dismantled on Tuesday a four-member ISIS cell, whose members were active in the cities of Tiznit and Sidi Slimane.
A statement from the BCIJ said the security operation carried out by the special forces of the Rapid Intervention Brigade resulted in the arrest of four extremists aged between 22 and 44.
The preliminary investigation said that security services seized paramilitary equipment, including tactical vest, a helmet, binoculars and a balaclava, as well as extremist manuscripts and a collection of electronic media, which will undergo necessary digital expertise.
The investigation shows that members of the terrorist cell were engaged in suspicious operations to mobilize financial resources and logistical support necessary to carry out terror projects within Morocco. The BCIJ added that this was all with the aim of undermining public order.
BCIJ carried out a similar operation earlier this month, when its services dismantled a five-member ISIS cell that was aimed to undermine Morocco’s security and stability.
The suspects were arrested in different cities; Casabanca, Tangier, Tetouan, Martil as well as near Essaouira.
Morocco has emphasized the importance of its counterterrorism approach during a meeting held on Monday by the UN Commission on Crime prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ).
At the event, Morocco’s ambassador to Vienna Azzedine Farhane stressed the country’s “holistic and integrated” strategy to address terrorism and transnational crime, noting that the country’s approach includes bolstering security measures, adding the root causes of extremism through poverty reduction, and promoting religious tolerance.
Several reports stressed the importance of Morocco’s counterterrorism approach, including the 2022 Country Report on Terroris issued by the US State Department.
The report highlighted Morocco’s efforts to mitigate the risk of terrorism in 2022, noting that the country made fewer terrorism related arrests in 2022 compared to the pre-COVID-period.
Morocco’s efforts to tackle violent religious extremism took center stage in the report, which highlighted the country’s innovative approach, including the development of an educational curriculum for imams as well as Islamic guides.
