2nd LD: Morocco says it foiled "dangerous" IS attack last Friday

Morocco foiled a dangerous terrorist attack, plotted by the Islamic State (IS) group, in the country last Friday, the Interior Ministry said Wednesday.

The ministry said in a statement that the foiling of this attack followed the dismantling of a terrorist cell composed of three extremists imbued with IS ideology and operating in the northern cities of M'diq and Tangier.

An ongoing investigation revealed that the cell was planning to commit terrorist attacks and trigger a series of destructive operations seeking to undermine Morocco's security and stability, with the aim of declaring Morocco a "wilaya," Arabic for state, linked to IS, it added.

The probe also revealed that the cell chief, who was getting ready to join the IS ranks in Syria and Iraqi, was tasked by a high-ranking leader within IS foreign operations unit to carry out terrorist acts in Morocco targeting sensitive spots, security establishments and tourism sites, as well as foreigners from countries taking part in the international coalition fighting the IS, it said.

The cell chief, who is skilled in making explosives, was receiving financial and logistical support to carry out his terrorist project from the IS leader, the ministry added.

The investigation also showed that the main suspect stole chemical products and equipment from a laboratory of an educational establishment in the city of M'diq in order to use them in bomb making.

The suspects will be brought to justice after the end of the investigation led under the supervision of the public prosecutor's office, it said.

Morocco is facing a growing threat from the IS. The Moroccan Interior Ministry revealed that since 2002, more than 160 terrorist cells have been dismantled, which had close ties with terrorist groups active in Iraq and Syria. Endit