MAGHAREBIA.COM
Moroccan officers from the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance arrested four members of a terrorist cell operating in Tiznit, Fez, Meknes and Taounat, the Interior Ministry announced in August 2013.
One of the most prominent activists on jihadist websites reportedly organized the cell after being tasked with recruiting for al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
“The leader of this cell, who was able to recruit Moroccans … some of whom have links with fighters who operate under the banner of al-Qaida in Syria, strongly urged them to perpetrate acts of sabotage against state institutions, and was planning to carry out a targeted terrorist operation in line with AQIM’s agenda,” the ministry said.
In November 2012, authorities dismantled a Moroccan terror network that recruited young people for al-Qaida splinter group Movement for Tawhid and Jihad in West Africa. The cell sent more than 20 young Moroccans to northern Mali. Once in Mali, the recruits were trained “to take part in terrorist operations planned to be carried out in the region later,” the Interior Ministry said.
During the past decade, Morocco dismantled at least 120 terrorist cells indoctrinated in al-Qaida’s jihadist ideology. Security services since 2003 have also thwarted more than 260 terrorist operations and arrested 1,300 terror suspects.
The frequency with which security agencies are dismantling terror cells shows that extremists continue to recruit and indoctrinate young people on AQIM’s behalf, journalist Moussa El Mouritani said. “After Afghanistan, the Sahel is still an alternative support base for AQIM, which is still capable of striking at any moment, in particular through its close links with the terrorist networks that it is trying to establish in countries neighboring the Sahel.”
Investigations have revealed that Libya, Mali and Syria were among the destinations for recruits.
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