The Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ), under Morocco’s Territory Surveillance Services (DGST), and the Spanish Police’s General Intelligence Directorate dismantled an alleged 15-member terrorist network affiliated with “Daesh” in the Sahel on Friday.
The network included nine members, three of whom were active in Tetouan and F’nideq in Northern Morocco, while the remaining six were based in Madrid, Ibiza, and Ceuta.
The authorities seized knives and computer equipment at the suspects’ homes, which will be taken for forensic analysis, according to BCIJ’s press release.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects, including former prisoners involved in terrorism-related cases in Spain, held meetings in Ceuta and Tetouan to plan and coordinate terrorist acts on behalf of “Daesh,” before joining the terrorist group’s branch in the sub-Saharan Sahel region, according to a statement by BCIJ.
The defendants are now in custody pending further investigation by BCIJ agents under the supervision of the public prosecutor’s office in charge of terrorism and extremism to uncover the network’s alleged extremist activities.
The joint operation is part of ongoing security coordination between Moroccan and Spanish authorities to combat terrorist threats potentially impacting the security of both kingdoms, according to the statement.