35 members of a terrorist network specializing in recruitment of volunteers for the organization “Al Qaeda” in Iraq and Algeria were arrested this week in several cities across the Moroccan kingdom.
The cities of Rabat, Tangier, Larache, Oujda, Ain Taoujtate and Skhinate where these arrests took place have long served as a rear base for these kamikaze recruiters.
At the council of government, held yesterday, Interior Minister Chakib Benmoussa said that the members of this network were planning terrorist acts detrimental to the security and stability of the kingdom.
“All measures will be taken in accordance with legal procedures in force, to prosecute members of this network and bring them to justice. Investigations are underway to arrest other members of this group outside of Morocco” said Benmoussa.
This is the third major raid by Moroccan security services since the beginning of the year, 2008, bringing the total number of people arrested and charged with involvement in terrorist networks to over sixty.
The Islamist network operating under the label Al-Qaida (Al Qaeda in the Maghreb Islamic) is very active in Morocco and Algeria.
