Morocco: Six Islamic State suspects arrested

Event

On Monday, October 23, Moroccan authorities announced six individuals, allegedly belonging to a terrorist group linked to the Islamic State (IS), had been arrested, one of whom was an expert in explosives. The suspected militants were reportedly planning a series of attacks.

Context

These arrests follow the detainment of 11 other suspected militants belonging to the same terrorist group on October 14. More than 150 terrorist cells have been dismantled in Morocco since 2002, including 40 in the past three years. It is estimated that over 1600 Moroccans have traveled to fight with IS in Syria and Iraq, 400 of whom died in combat. Only approximately 78 are believed to have returned to Morocco thus far.

While no major attacks have occurred in recent years, the threat remains high. Several attacks have been carried out on Moroccan soil in the past decade, notably a 2011 bombing at a café in Marrakesh that killed 17 people.

Advice

Due to the significant terrorist threat, individuals in Morocco are advised report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities and to exercise caution at all times, particularly when visiting sites deemed particularly likely to be targeted in an attack (public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, festivals, etc.), especially in major cities such as Marrakesh, Rabat, and Casablanca.