Marrakech – Moroccan police arrested two ISIS-affiliated extremists on Friday in the cities of Midelt and Youssoufia, the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) announced.
The suspects, both 19, were apprehended by judicial police based on intelligence provided by the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST). Preliminary investigations showed both had pledged allegiance to the self-proclaimed leader of ISIS. They were planning imminent attacks under the framework of so-called “individual jihad,” targeting people, public order, and critical infrastructure.
Both suspects were placed in custody and transferred to the BCIJ for further investigation under the supervision of the anti-terrorism prosecution. Authorities noted the probe aims to uncover the full scope of their extremist activities and determine any links to other terrorist organizations.
The arrests came days after a similar operation in Dakhla. On Tuesday, judicial police detained a 22-year-old extremist affiliated with ISIS, also acting on DGST intelligence.
The BCIJ reported the suspect had expressed intent to carry out attacks targeting civilians and public order. Officers seized electronic devices, multiple bladed weapons of various sizes, and paramilitary clothing during the operation.
Earlier in April, the BCIJ dismantled a six-member terrorist cell across multiple cities. The suspects were arrested on April 5 and 6 in Kenitra, Casablanca, the Dar El Gueddari area in Sidi Kacem province, and Sidi Taibi. The cell was involved in theft, burglary, and money laundering under the extremist principle known as “legitimization of spoils.”
Searches yielded extremist literature, manuscripts, bladed weapons, cash suspected of criminal origin, a balaclava, gloves, three vehicles, including two cargo vans and a motorcycle believed to have been used in the crimes.
The cell’s operations targeted livestock farms in rural areas around Kenitra and Sidi Slimane. Stolen goods were resold at local markets in Joumaa Shim in Safi province and Zemamra in Sidi Bennour province.
The string of operations reflects the broader architecture Morocco has built over more than two decades to counter violent extremism. The BCIJ, established in March 2015 under the joint framework of the interior and justice ministries, operates under prosecutorial supervision to handle terrorism cases.
Since 2002, Moroccan security services have dismantled nearly 200 terrorist cells and disrupted some 300 extremist groups, according to a Moroccan government document submitted to the UN Human Rights Council.
The country’s counter-extremism strategy extends beyond security. It rests on five pillars: a religious pillar centered on the king’s role as Commander of the Faithful and the training of imams through the Mohammed VI Institute; a legal and security framework including anti-terrorism and anti-money laundering legislation; socioeconomic programs such as the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH); a human rights pillar anchored in the 2011 constitution; and international cooperation, including Morocco’s co-chairmanship of the Global Counterterrorism Forum.
The DGST maintains active intelligence-sharing partnerships with European, American, and African counterparts.
