Morocco's counterterrorism agency announced it foiled several terrorist attack plots targeting sensitive sites and public security, allegedly planned by a cell affiliated with Daesh's Sahel branch.

Ten suspects were arrested during coordinated operations carried out in the cities of Agadir, Taroudant, Casablanca, El Hajeb, Tetouan, Fkih Ben Salah, and Safi, according to a statement from the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ).

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects had pledged allegiance to Daesh and received direct instructions from the group's Sahel affiliate to carry out terrorist attacks on Moroccan territory.

The operation underscores the persistent threat posed by terrorist groups operating in the Sahel, where Daesh and Al-Qaeda affiliates have strengthened their presence in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.

Weapons seized

During searches, authorities seized bladed weapons, military-style clothing, documents containing instructions for making explosive devices, digital equipment, and chemical substances, the BCIJ said.

Investigators also discovered a modified vehicle suspected of being intended for use in a suicide attack or a vehicle-ramming attack.

Security forces further recovered butane gas cylinders and pressure cookers, some filled with nails and others connected to an electrical wiring system, from a warehouse used by the group.

According to BCIJ figures, Daesh's African branches have recruited more than 130 Moroccan fighters in recent years.

Since its establishment in 2015, the BCIJ says it has dismantled dozens of terrorist cells and arrested more than 1,000 people suspected of links to terrorist organisations.

The last recorded terrorist attack in Morocco took place in 2023, when three individuals claiming allegiance to Daesh killed a Moroccan police officer in Casablanca.