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3 IS-linked suspects arrested in Morocco

Xinhua, January 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

Morocco announced Wednesday that three suspects linked with the Islamic State (IS) had been arrested in the northern city of Tangier.

The suspects, who had close ties with Moroccan fighters in Syria and Iraq, planned to carry out attacks with bladed weapons against people not believing in their extremist doctrine in the IS style, the Interior Ministry said in a statement Wednesday.

Investigations revealed that the arrested people had plotted to carry out theft operations in order to finance their trip to join the ranks of the IS.

On Friday, Moroccan police arrested a Belgian man with "direct links" to Paris attackers in the coastal city of Mohammedia.

The ongoing investigations revealed that the suspect had traveled from Belgium to Syria with one of the Saint-Denis suicide bombers to fight with Al-Nusra Front before joining the IS, the ministry said, adding that he had received military training in using different types of arms and guerrilla tactics before being sent to one of the conflict fronts.

According to the Moroccan government, police have busted some 140 terrorist cells since 2002 and successfully foiled hundreds of terrorist plans. More than 2,200 individuals have been arrested. Endit