Morocco Thwarts Major ISIS-Linked Terror Plot: Dismantles Cell and Uncovers Weapons Cache (video)

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and companions.

• Ladies and gentlemen, representatives of national and international media.
• Distinguished attendees.

أفراد الخلية الإرهابية أطلقوا على أنفسهم اسم "أسود الخلافة في المغرب الاقصى" وكانوا يخططون لمشروع إرهابي وشيك وخطير، بتحريض مباشر من المدعو " عبد الرحمن الصحراوي" وهو قيادي بارز بتنظيم داعش، ليبي الجنسية (مدير المكتب المركزي للأبحاث القضائية )#تفكيك_خلية_إرهابية pic.twitter.com/uA7VQcjldK — 2M.ma (@2MInteractive) February 24, 2025

As mentioned in the security pole's press releases published on Wednesday and Thursday, February 19 and 20, the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ), based on precise intelligence provided by the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST), successfully thwarted a highly dangerous terrorist plot targeting Morocco. This plot was orchestrated under the direct orders and incitement of a prominent leader of the Islamic State (ISIS) in the Sahel region, known as "Abdul Rahman Al-Sahrawi," a Libyan national.

At the outset, it is important to emphasize that the investigation and tracking of this terrorist cell, which its members referred to as "Lions of the Caliphate in the Far Maghreb," spanned nearly a year. This culminated in the arrest of its twelve members in the cities of Laayoune, Casablanca, Fez, Taounate, Tangier, Azemmour, Jerada, Oulad Tayma, and Tamsna near Rabat. These individuals had recently conducted reconnaissance missions to identify potential targets in several Moroccan cities.

The search and investigation procedures carried out during this security operation initially led to the seizure of a large quantity of equipment and materials intended for the preparation of an imminent and dangerous terrorist project. These included ready-to-use explosive devices, materials suspected of being used in the manufacture of explosives, and bladed weapons.

Preliminary technical investigations also revealed that some members of this cell, tasked with coordination, possessed GPS coordinates and addresses related to a weapons and ammunition cache prepared for the cell's use in carrying out their terrorist plans. This cache was located in the Errachidia region, specifically on the eastern bank of the "Oued Kher" in "Tel Mzil," within the municipality and district of Oued Naam in the Boudnib area near Morocco's eastern border.

Upon arriving at the location identified by the GPS coordinates, it was discovered that the cache was situated at the foot of a rugged terrain. This necessitated the deployment of specialized equipment, the implementation of security and safety protocols for terrorist threats, and the use of explosive detection dogs, metal detectors, suspicious material identification devices, bomb disposal robots, and X-ray scanning equipment.

After more than three hours of topographical scanning, sweeping, and inspection, a shipment of firearms and ammunition buried in a secluded area beneath a rocky elevation was uncovered.

As detailed in the published security reports, this arsenal consisted of two Kalashnikov rifles with two ammunition magazines, two firearms, ten individual pistols of various types, and a large quantity of live ammunition of different calibers. These items were wrapped in plastic bags and newspapers from Mali, including weekly publications dated January 15 and 27, 2025.

Ballistic examinations conducted by weapons experts from the National Institute of Forensic Science and Evidence under the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) revealed that these weapons were in good working condition. Their serial numbers had been deliberately erased to obscure their origin, and some barrels had been cut to facilitate concealment and transport. Further details on these findings will be provided by Mr. Abdelrahman Youssoufi Alaoui, the Head of the Technical Division and Risk Management at the DGSN.

According to the information obtained so far, the ISIS leader in the Sahel, "Abdul Rahman Al-Sahrawi," who was in contact with smuggling networks, provided this arsenal to the terrorist cell members. Thanks to the vigilance of the security services and the grace of Allah, these weapons were intercepted, preventing a potential catastrophe had the cell members gained access to them.

Following this brief explanation of the circumstances surrounding the dismantling of this terrorist cell, we will now outline its key characteristics and its intersections with terrorist organizations in the Sahel region:

Key Characteristics of the Terrorist Cell Members:

As of this stage of the investigation, 12 suspects have been arrested, ranging in age from 18 to 40 years old.

Regarding the profiles of the detainees, they share a common trait in their educational background, with eight of them having only completed secondary education, three having basic education, and one not having progressed beyond the first year of university.

In terms of their social status, only two of them are married with children, while the majority work in simple and occasional trades.

Remote Management of Terrorism and the Continuity of Threats from the Sahel by Both "Al-Qaeda" and "ISIS":

Preliminary security investigations indicate that members of this terrorist cell had close ties to operatives from the External Operations Committee of ISIS in the Sahel, which was led by the late Adnan Abu Walid Al-Sahrawi.

The same investigations reveal that the terrorist project of this cell received the blessing of ISIS in the Sahel. The cell members recently received a video inciting them to carry out these operations, signaling their transition to the physical execution of their destructive plans (see video).

The danger of this cell lies not only in the multiplicity of its identified targets but also in its strategic role as a project for ISIS in the Sahel to establish a branch in Morocco. This is evident in the management style adopted, as cell members, under the direction of the External Operations Committee of this organization, formed a mini-committee tasked with coordinating with it regarding terrorist plans, their execution, and relaying orders to other elements.

Dual External and Internal Terrorist Threats Facing Morocco:

The dismantling of this cell shortly after the neutralization of the "Three Brothers" cell in Had Soualem near Casablanca, with the prominent role of external factors in terms of recruitment, ideological framing, and operational guidance, clearly demonstrates that Morocco is simultaneously facing external and internal terrorist threats. This is evident through the involvement of local elements in the expansionist agenda pursued by terrorist organizations active in the Sahel region within Moroccan territory.

It is worth noting that terrorist organizations, in their various branches, do not hide their desire to target Morocco through their propaganda platforms, using a range of pretexts to push their supporters to engage in retaliatory operations on Moroccan soil against national and foreign targets.

To link the past of these external threats to the present, it is necessary to recall the media appearance of the former leader of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Abdelmalek Droukdel, on May 9, 2007, and the statement of the "General Command of Al-Qaeda" on November 18, 2023, as well as ISIS statements that directly referenced Morocco.

The involvement of foreign elements in terrorist plots against Morocco, as seen in this cell managed remotely by a leader of ISIS in the Sahel and a member of the External Operations Committee named "Abdul Rahman Al-Sahrawi," is not new. Morocco's experience is replete with examples that confirm the determination of terrorist organizations to target the Kingdom.

In this context, we recall the case of an ISIS envoy to Morocco, a Maghrebi national arrested on January 25, 2015, in the Bni Drar area near Oujda. He was found in possession of significant quantities of chemicals used in the manufacture of explosives, as well as pistols and wireless communication devices.

Similarly, local elements who were unable to reach ISIS training camps in the African theater do not hesitate to plan terrorist acts within Morocco, responding to calls from ISIS leadership urging their supporters to choose traditional targets and attack them by any means available. This was evident in the actions of the terrorist cell involved in the assassination of a police officer near Casablanca in March 2023. Investigations revealed that they committed their crime after failing to join a group of their acquaintances within ISIS in Somalia.

Regardless of other cells dismantled between 2008 and 2010 that planned terrorist projects in Morocco, the presence of Moroccan leaders within various terrorist organizations active in the Sahel, whether affiliated with Al-Qaeda or ISIS, such as the aforementioned Noureddine El Youbi, Ali Maichou, and Mohamed Lemkhanter (who were killed), has cast a shadow over the level of terrorist threats emanating from this region, as they sought to expand their groups' activities into Morocco.

This reality foreshadows future scenarios of no less danger, given the growing appeal of terrorist ideologies among local extremist circles and all terrorist organizations in the Sahel, particularly those loyal to ISIS. Despite efforts to combat networks transporting fighters (such as the cell dismantled on January 29 and 30, 2024, between Casablanca, Inezgane, Tangier, and Beni Mellal), over 130 Moroccan fighters have successfully joined the ranks of various ISIS affiliates in the Sahel, West Africa, and the Horn of Africa. Some of them have been assigned key responsibilities within these groups, particularly those related to external operations.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

These were the most prominent features of this cell and its intersections with terrorist organizations in the Sahel, which pose a real threat to the security of the entire region. The success of this operation reinforces Morocco's image as a nation with high security vigilance in protecting its internal security and contributing to the stability of its regional and international environment.

Before giving the floor to Mr. Abdelrahman Youssoufi Alaoui, the Head of the Technical Division and Risk Management at the DGSN, to discuss the technical expertise conducted on the materials and weapons seized in connection with this terrorist cell, I will conclude my remarks with the words of Allah Almighty regarding the blessing of security:

"In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful: 'And [mention] when Abraham said, 'My Lord, make this city [Makkah] secure and provide its people with fruits.'" (Quran 2:126).

Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.