Moroccan authorities arrested 12 people suspected of planning terror attacks on behalf of Daesh in the Sahel on Monday.
The dismantling of the cell, described as a “recent dangerous terror plot,” highlights the growing ambitions of extremist groups operating south of the Sahara Desert.
Authorities did not disclose specific details about the suspects’ motives or intended targets, but indicated that the group planned to carry out remote bombings. Police raids across the country have seized weapons stockpiles, Daesh flags and large amounts of cash. Authorities also released images and video from the operation, showing officers raiding multiple locations.
“Morocco remains a key target on the agenda of all terrorist organizations operating in the Sahel,” Habboub Cherkaoui, head of Morocco’s Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations, told a press briefing.