Morocco's security forces arrest 50 extremists

Through preventive security campaigns aimed at stifling the sources of extremism in the Kingdom of Morocco, the Moroccan police were able to expel dozens of people suspected of being connected to terrorist activities and projects. Specifically 50 people were arrested by the Moroccan Police during separate operations in several cities, according to local media reports.

According to the Moroccan public television news website, "simultaneous security operations resulted in the arrest of 50 people in several Moroccan cities as part of preventive operations to combat terrorism", and stated that "21 people" had been detained and were now "theoretically in custody".

According to additional information on the website, the suspects "were brought to the attention of the specialised security services through actions that demonstrated their allegiance to the extremist organisations Daesh and al-Qaeda".

Agents from the National Brigade and the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ), which are under the control of the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST), are working in close collaboration with the DGSN services. Bladed weapons and textbooks calling for jihad, as well as writings with clear instructions for the manufacture of explosives, were found in the residences of some of the detainees.

According to the investigations carried out by the security forces, the function within the organisation of the detained individuals was "recruitment and information gathering", as well as being in charge of cyber-propaganda for terrorist acts. Moreover, according to the police, some of them showed sympathy with terrorist cells that had already been dismantled. These include members sympathetic to those responsible for the murder of Casablanca police officer Hisham Bourza, according to the Moroccan website Safir.

Thanks to the great cooperation of Moroccan security and intelligence forces, terrorist attacks have generally not had an impact in the Kingdom recently. Since the Casablanca attacks in 2003, the Kingdom has enjoyed a high level of security despite increased activity on the country's southern border.

Morocco has employed a comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy 

Since the suicide bombings that rocked Casablanca in May 2003, the Moroccan government has actively pursued its counter-terrorism strategy and, as a result, has been able to destroy dozens of terrorist cells. 

By implementing scientific strategies based on educating people about the risks of religious extremism, enforcing the values of tolerance and coexistence, and facilitating collaboration with Western allies, it has eliminated the sources of extremism to limit the recent spread of the phenomenon. Through close coordination and reliable intelligence that resulted in the capture of extremists planning attacks in Europe, Moroccan agencies were able to prevent terrorist attacks in European nations on several occasions.

Morocco is a reliable partner in the fight against terrorism, according to a US report for the year 2021. It also noted that it has largely succeeded in containing the spread of terrorist activities.

According to the report, Morocco has made significant efforts to combat terrorism locally, regionally and globally. It has been successful in arresting a significant number of terrorists and dismantling terrorist cells planning attacks against a number of crucial targets, including government and security figures and foreign headquarters.

Morocco was able to invest in partnerships that connect it with global actors, giving Moroccan authorities access to international cooperation for successful counterterrorism operations and intelligence gathering for security purposes. In order to improve performance, technical and investigative capabilities, and analyse intelligence data, as well as cybersecurity-related issues, the Kingdom has also participated in numerous US-led counterterrorism programmes.

Due to its significant environmental impact and having established itself as a challenging player in the equation of regional balances and economic and security partnerships in a volatile geopolitical space, Morocco plays a crucial role in maintaining stability in the region.

The Kingdom has made significant progress in developing its armed forces by signing military cooperation agreements with numerous nations, diversifying arms sources and turning its attention to military technologies, especially drones, which many armed forces and security agencies have opted for in order to maintain stability and security, especially on the borders.