11 people arrested over fish vendor's death in Morocco

Moroccan authorities have arrested 11 people over the death of a fish vendor in the northern city of Hoceima, the prosecutor said on Tuesday.

Mouhcine Fikri, 31, was crushed to death by a compactor after he jumped along with some friends into a garbage truck to retrieve his merchandise, according to the local media.

The same source pointed out that his merchandise was confiscated by local authorities on the basis that it is a protected species in this period of the year in the country.

The 11 suspects have been brought before an investigating magistrate in connection with allegations of involuntary manslaughter and forgery of public documents, the prosecutor said in a statement.

The initial investigations found that the driver of the garbage truck had received a signal from a collection worker to turn the crusher power on while Fikri was in the truck with several people trying to prevent fish being loaded.

The death of Mouhcine Fikri on Friday has sparked widespread protests across the country.

Since Saturday, demonstrations and sit-ins have been staged in the city of Hoceima. On Sunday, thousands marched in protest across the country, including capital Rabat and major cities like Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakesh and Agadir.

The Moroccan interior minister visited Sunday Hoceima offering condolences to the family of Fikri.

According to a statement by the Interior Ministry, King Mohammed VI ordered to conduct a "careful and thorough investigation and bringing charges against whoever held responsible in this incident." Endit