Arrest in Tangier of 22-year-old IS sympathiser suspected of manufacturing explosives
A 22-year-old extremist with ties to the Islamic State was arrested on Friday in Tangier on suspicion of preparing terrorist attacks in Morocco.
Tangier: alleged 22-year-old jihadist held in custody after seizure of explosive material
The judicial police in Tangier arrested a 22-year-old man on Friday, 9 October, a sympathiser of the Islamic State group (IS), on suspicion of preparing attacks on Moroccan territory. The Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ), the counter-terrorism service attached to the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST), announced the arrest on Saturday, as reported by barlamane.com.
According to the BCIJ, "the initial investigation findings indicate that the suspect engaged in the preparation of terrorist projects on national territory, after conducting preliminary trials in the manufacture of explosive devices". The arrest was made based on precise intelligence transmitted by the DGST in the context of operations aimed at "neutralising the threats posed by terrorist organisations to the security of the kingdom and the safety of citizens".
During the search, police seized solid and liquid chemical substances "suspected of being used in the preparation and manufacture of explosives", the composition and intended use of which must be determined by technical and scientific expertise. The seized material also includes a quantity of nails, adhesive tape, batteries and electrical switches.
Investigators also recovered manuscripts detailing computer hacking methods, as well as electronic devices including a modified telephone connected to electrical wires. A welding station, welding wires and safety glasses completed the set of material discovered.
The suspect was handed over to the BCIJ and placed in custody. The investigation, conducted under the authority of the prosecutor handling terrorism cases, aims to "determine all the terrorist projects in which the suspect would be implicated and establish the extent of any links he may have in Morocco and abroad", the bureau's statement specifies.
Source: Google News MA — Crime (fr)