(AKI) - Moroccan police have discovered a terrorist group of Salafite Jihadists believed to be close to al-Qaeda operating in the city of Meknes, 130 kilometres north of Rabat, local daily Al-Ittihad al-Ishtiraki reported on Friday. Officials reportedly arrested Wednesday seven people accused of belonging to the armed group. After questioning, four of them were released while the other three were formally charged of planning attacks against hotels in Meknes and the literature department of the local university. Police also said the suspects had explosives, but did not provide further details.
The three men currently detained were convicted in the past for belonging to a local Islamist radical group. Investigators believe the cell could have been in contact with the 'Organization of al-Qaeda in the countries of Arab Maghreb' - the self-proclaimed heir of the Algerian Salafite Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) which has claimed responsibility for attacks in Algeria this week in which at least seven people died.
Morocco has been cracking down on Islamic fundamentalist groups ever since a terror attack in Casablanca in 2003 killed 45 people. Over 3,000 people have reportedly been arrested since then. Hundreds are still detained after being convicted of terrorism charges. |