Marrakech Police Detain Man Over Alleged Extortion in Medina

Investigators identified the suspect, who had previous convictions including unlicensed tour guiding and domestic violence.

Rabat – Marrakech authorities arrested a 39-year-old man with a criminal record after a social media video surfaced showing him allegedly threatening a foreign citizen in the city’s historic medina.

Security sources said the video, which appeared on multiple online platforms on Monday evening, prompted police to act even though no formal complaint had been filed.

The authorities treated the clip as a report of a possible crime and opened a judicial investigation under the supervision of the public prosecutor.

Investigators identified the suspect, who had previous convictions including unlicensed tour guiding and domestic domestic violence.

Police located and apprehended him in the rural area of Zemrane, on the outskirts of Marrakech.

The suspect remains under judicial review as authorities examine the circumstances and motives behind the alleged extortion and threats.

The arrest in Marrakech comes amid ongoing police crackdowns and a series of recent arrests across Morocco.

In Guelmim, authorities detained four young men suspected of carrying out a violent robbery against a member of the public forces, after a video of the assault circulated widely online.

The arrests, which took place over Sunday and Monday, followed a swift investigation by the judicial police, reflecting the growing role of social media in alerting authorities to potential crimes.