Information
Morocco’s counterterrorism agency recently disclosed the thwarting of a major terrorist plot by a group affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) in the Sahel region, just south of the Sahara Desert. The agency uncovered a 12-member terror cell that was reportedly on the verge of executing “an imminent dangerous terrorist plot,” signaling the growing threat and ambitions of extremist groups in the region. The plot specifics were not fully disclosed, but it was revealed that the cell intended to detonate bombs remotely. This action highlights the continued efforts by terrorist organizations to expand their influence in areas like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
During raids across various Moroccan cities, authorities seized significant amounts of weaponry and explosives, including materials for making nail bombs and dynamite, as well as rifles and handguns. Visuals from the raids showed large caches of weapons, IS flags, and considerable sums of money, underscoring the serious nature of the threat. The suspects, arrested in nine different cities and ranging in age from 18 to 40, were said to be radicalized online and operating under the direction of a Libyan IS leader. Habboub Cherkaoui, head of Morocco’s Central Bureau for Judicial Investigations, emphasized at a press conference that the connection between terrorist groups and criminal networks poses a significant risk not only to Morocco but also to Europe, noting the trend of IS’s African branches to internationalize their activities.
Source: Reuters, AFP
So what
This is the largest plot that has been publicly disrupted in some time and likely shows the growing capabilities of Islamic terror groups in North Africa following the Islamic state’s majority defeat in Iraq and Syria. As stated in the article, while the direct threat of this group was to Morocco, it is likely that a group of this size poses a threat to Spain and wider Europe due to their ability to smuggle another terrorist across the channel and into Europe. Additionally, due to this threat, it is possible that Morocco had intelligence support from EU countries.
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