Morocco says it foiled terror plots, arrests 10 suspects in seven cities

The Moroccan Security Services busted a terrorist cell with suspected links to the Islamic State (IS) group in the Sahel, arresting 10 suspects allegedly plotting imminent attacks, Morocco's Central Bureau for Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) said Monday in a statement.

BCIJ said coordinated raids across seven cities uncovered bladed weapons, military-style clothing, bomb-making instructions, digital materials, chemicals and a vehicle allegedly modified for use in a bombing or ramming attack.

According to the BCIJ, the group's plans were at an "advanced stage of preparation." Preliminary investigations found that the suspects had pledged allegiance to Islamic State and received instructions from the group's Sahel branch to carry out attacks in Morocco.

BCIJ figures show that more than 130 Moroccan nationals have been recruited by ISSP in recent years. Since its establishment in 2015, the agency says it has dismantled dozens of militant cells and arrested more than 1,000 suspected terrorists.

The last militant ​attack in the country was in 2023, when three individuals loyal to Islamist State killed ​a Moroccan policeman in Casablanca.