Moroccan security services arrested a 23 year-old man suspected of being affiliated with the ISIS terrorist group in Dakhla, southern Morocco on Thursday.
A statement from the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST) said the arrest is part of the ongoing security operations to address the threats posed by terror organizations seeking to undermine Morocco’s security.
Preliminary data from the ongoing investigation shows that the 23-year old suspect is a native of El Hajeb, a town near Fez. He pledged allegiance to the leader of ISIS and was actively engaged in preparing terrorist plans, according to the DGST.
The DGST, in coordination with security services operating in Dakhla, put the suspect in custody for further investigation conducted by the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) to reveal the nature of the plots in question and identify any potential links in Morocco and abroad.
The statement emphasized that the operation shed light on the increasing terror threats that Morocco continues to face, as more people become influenced by the extremist ideologies pushed by terrorist groups.
Several recent reports have highlighted Morocco’s approach to tackle terror threats nationally and internationally.
Security services have carried hundreds of similar operations throughout the years, with the latest coming in October, when the BCIJ arrested four ISIS affiliated suspects for their alleged involvement in the preparation of terrorist operations.
The suspects, aged 25 to 32, were arrested in separate operations in different cities including Tangier, Tetouan, and Inzegane Ait Melloul.
Source: Morocco World News