[ADN Kronos] A Moroccan court on Wednesday sentenced to life imprisonment the leader of an Islamic extremist cell. Abdelkader Belliraj was convicted of forming a criminal gang with the aim of carrying out terrorist attacks and murders. The court also found Belliraj, aged 50, guilty of possession of explosives, harming the security of the state and theft. A Moroccan-born Belgian national, Belliraj denies all charges against him. His lawyer has said he will appeal the sentence. More than 30 people who were arrested with Belliraj in February last year and tried with him received prison sentences from two to 30 years. They included six Islamist politicians, schoolteachers, a telecoms engineer, a hotel manager and a TV reporter.
During the trial, Belliraj's lawyer argued he had made visits to militant groups for Belgium's intelligence services. Morocco's intelligence service claims Belliraj was the author of six assassinations in Belgium between 1986 and 1989, killings that Belgian police failed to solve.
Belliraj was planning to attack government ministries, senior army officers and Moroccan Jews, according to interior minister Chakib Benmoussa.