Moroccan security services arrested two suspected extremists loyal to the Islamic State group in operations carried out on Friday in the cities of Midelt and Douar Dweibat in Youssoufia province, authorities said.
According to a statement issued by the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations, the suspects, both aged 19, were apprehended based on precise intelligence provided by the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance.
The statement said preliminary investigations and security monitoring revealed that the two suspects had pledged allegiance to the self-proclaimed leader of the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS.
Authorities believe the suspects were preparing to carry out imminent terrorist plans within the framework of what extremist organizations describe as “individual jihad.”
According to investigators, the alleged plots targeted public safety, state security and vital infrastructure inside Morocco.
The suspects were placed in police custody pending their transfer to the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations for further questioning under the supervision of the prosecutor’s office in charge of terrorism-related cases.
Moroccan authorities said the investigation aims to uncover the full extent of the suspects’ alleged extremist activities and determine whether they maintained links with other terrorist organizations or networks.
Morocco has in recent years intensified counterterrorism operations as part of broader efforts to prevent extremist threats and dismantle suspected terror cells before attacks can be carried out.
