Morocco thwarts imminent terrorist plot

Sunday 26 January 2025 - 11:30

On Sunday, January 26, 2025, Morocco's Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ), based on precise information provided by the Directorate General of Territorial Surveillance (DGST), successfully foiled an "imminent terrorist plot" that had reached an advanced stage of preparation for explosive attacks.

Special DGST units, in collaboration with BCIJ officers and air units, conducted raids across two locations in Had Soualem, Berrechid province. These operations led to the arrest of four extremist individuals, including three brothers, affiliated with the Daesh terror group.

The suspects, aged between 26 and 35, were operating in Had Soualem. The raids targeted two residences in the Al Omrane housing complex and the Oulad Jamaâ area. Specialized teams, including bomb detection experts, a canine unit trained for explosive detection, and a Royal Gendarmerie helicopter with elite sharpshooters from DGST’s special forces, were deployed for the operation.

During the searches, authorities seized alarming equipment, including various types of knives, bottles containing chemicals, bags filled with chemical fertilizers, sulfur, powdered charcoal, salts, and suspicious substances. Additionally, they found electric wires, welding equipment, and adhesive tapes suspected to be intended for explosive devices. These items were immediately sent for further analysis by forensic experts.

Investigations revealed that the suspects had recently shared a video pledging allegiance to Daesh and announcing plans to carry out imminent attacks. Further inquiry showed they had purchased materials from four hardware stores in a single day, all of which were used in bomb-making activities. These materials were stored at one of the suspect’s residences, where preparatory experiments were being carried out.

Two of the suspects had also conducted surveillance on strategic sites, filming and photographing potential targets at various times. Intelligence gathered confirmed that the cell was planning devastating attacks with explosives, intending to later join Daesh camps in the unstable Sahel region.

The arrested individuals are now under detention, with the investigation overseen by the public prosecutor's office, specializing in terrorism-related cases. The BCIJ’s ongoing probe seeks to uncover any links between the cell and regional or international terrorist organizations and to identify and apprehend any additional individuals involved in the plot.