Terrorism in Morocco

Terrorism in Morocco: On May 16, 2003, a cell of Islamist terrorists belonging to a group calling itself 

Salafiya Jihadiya bombed a series of Jewish targets in Casablanca; 45 people, including 12 

suicide bombers, died in the incidents. Indicating that terrorism is a continuing threat, in June 

2002 the press reported that Morocco had foiled an al Qaeda conspiracy to attack British and 

U.S. Navy vessels in the Strait of Gibraltar with explosives-laden dinghies. Morocco arrested 

three Saudi Arabian nationals in connection with the planned terrorist strike, which appears to 

have been modeled after al Qaeda’s raid on a U.S. Navy ship off Yemen in 2000. Following the 

Casablanca bombings in 2003, Morocco began to crack down on Islamist militants, including 

both Salafiya Jihadiya and the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group (Groupe Islamique 

Combattant Marocain—GICM). In late 2005, Morocco dismantled several al Qaeda-affiliated 

cells that had been plotting attacks in the country. Altogether, Morocco has arrested 3,000 

suspects, about 1,000 of whom were jailed on terrorism charges, since the Casablanca bombings. 

The United States has recognized Morocco’s support for the war on terrorism by designating 

Morocco as a non-North Atlantic Treaty Organization ally

The Kingdom of Morocco has strengthened its security against a "serious terrorist threat" that would weigh on the country. 

Morocco announced Thursday it had strengthened its security against a "serious terrorist threat." The authorities have reported a "growing number" of citizens of the kingdom in the jihadist ranks in Syria and Iraq. There is "a serious threat of a terrorist attack against the kingdom because of the increasing number of Moroccans belonging to extremist organizations in Syria and Iraq," said Interior Minister Mohamed Hassad at a council of government in Rabat. 

According to experts, the Moroccan fighters are more than 2,000 in Syria and Iraq, while more than 400 have been killed since the start of the uprising against the regime of Bashar al-Assad in 2011. 

"A number of these fighters assume leadership positions in these organizations and do not hide their intent to commit a terrorist act" in Morocco, he continued, according to comments reported in the press spokesman government, Mustapha Khalfi. According to him, these fighters receive an "experience in the preparation of explosives and techniques of war." Morocco considers that these Moroccan nationals can rely "on the support of active jihadist groups in North Africa" as well as "other Moroccan extremists who have pledged allegiance (from Morocco) to the Islamic state." 

Moroccan authorities have taken steps to "ensure the security of citizens and their property," as well as "strategic public sectors," said Mohamed Hassad. Monday already, at the request of Washington, Rabat had tightened security on its flights to the United States.