DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Moroccan security forces announced on Wednesday the dismantling of a terrorist cell affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS), consisting of four extremists operating between the cities of Tetouan and Chefchaouen in northern Morocco.
In a statement, the Moroccan Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) said the proactive operation was part of ongoing efforts to counter terrorist threats and thwart plots aimed at undermining the security and stability of the Kingdom.
The suspects, aged between 20 and 27, were arrested following coordinated raids. Authorities said the searches uncovered a handwritten pledge of allegiance to the self-proclaimed ISIS emir, a video recording of that pledge, an ISIS flag, a black outfit with extremist inscriptions, mock weapons including a scoped rifle and two pistols, as well as electronic devices, which are undergoing digital forensic analysis.
The BCIJ noted that preliminary investigations revealed the suspects were in the early stages of planning terrorist attacks aligned with ISIS’s broader agenda. The cell had already conducted field experiments in a mountainous area near Tetouan to test the manufacture of explosive devices.
The four suspects remain in custody under the supervision of the anti-terrorism public prosecutor as investigations continue to uncover the full scope of the cell’s activities and connections.