Marruecos detiene a 5 personas vinculadas al Daesh que planeaban atacar edificios gubernamentales y militares

Senior Moroccan officials could be targeted by Daesh. This is according to the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ), a body focused on the fight against terrorism in the country. This institution has carried out a joint operation with the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST) that has resulted in 5 arrests. The detainees, aged between 21 and 44, had sworn allegiance to Daesh, according to the BCIJ.

In addition, according to the Moroccan office's press release, these individuals aimed to attack, among others, "senior officials, security services and political figures in the Kingdom". The alleged terrorists had drawn up an inventory of the products and elements needed to make explosives. They also allegedly identified places to attack, such as military barracks or government facilities, according to Jeune Afrique. 

The arrests were made in Kénitra, Larache, Souk Sebt Ouled Nemma, Taroudant and Souihla, a town near Marrakech. "The raids on the homes of the detainees resulted in the seizure of knives of different sizes, a set of manuscripts in praise of Daesh, as well as electronic equipment and media that will be subjected to technical and digital expertise," explains the BCIJ press release.

It also indicated that the alleged jihadists planned to finance their projects by robbing banks and private individuals. The detainees were targeting "financial and banking establishments with a view to securing the resources and financing necessary for terrorist operations".

The DGST, for its part, announced on Twitter "the arrest of five extremists loyal to Daesh". The citizens were arrested, according to the Moroccan institution, "on suspicion of involvement in the preparation and implementation of subversive projects in the framework of individual terrorism". The DGST also stressed that these individuals "have collected extremist content on the method of manufacturing explosive devices".

Both the BCIJ and the DGST are two institutions tasked with fighting terrorism in Morocco and abroad. Recently, the DGST provided the Belgian authorities with information on a Moroccan national suspected of being involved in the incitement, planning and preparation of "imminent" terrorist projects. In this regard, at the end of December, the Spanish National Police arrested a Moroccan national for suspected membership of Daesh in a joint operation with the DGST.