Moroccan counterterrorism forces successfully dismantled a dangerous extremist cell plotting imminent, large-scale attacks across the kingdom, officials announced Monday.
The Central Bureau for Judicial Investigations arrested 10 suspects during synchronized, high-stakes raids spanning seven major Moroccan cities.
Investigators revealed the suspects pledged allegiance to Daesh’s Sahel branch, receiving direct instructions to strike sensitive national targets.
The operation highlights the creeping shadow of terrorism emanating from the volatile, conflict-ridden Sahel region just south of Morocco.
During the coordinated sweeps, authorities uncovered a grim arsenal of bladed weapons, military uniforms, and volatile chemical substances.
Security forces also seized digital equipment alongside detailed, step-by-step manuals blueprints explaining how to manufacture makeshift explosive devices.
In a dark twist, police discovered a modified vehicle explicitly prepared to launch a devastating suicide or vehicle-ramming operation.
Raids on a hidden warehouse uncovered butane cylinders and pressure cookers packed with nails and rigged with electrical wiring.
The sophisticated plot underscores a persistent regional threat, with Daesh African affiliates actively recruiting over 130 Moroccan fighters recently.
Since 2015, Morocco’s specialized security units have dismantled dozens of militant networks, arresting more than 1,000 terror suspects.