Thanks to precise intelligence provided by the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST), the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) successfully thwarted a dangerous terrorist plot targeting Morocco this Wednesday morning. The operation was directly orchestrated by a senior leader of the Daesh organization in the Sahel region.
According to a statement from the DGSN-DGST security hub, a simultaneous security operation took place early Wednesday morning (February 19, 2025) in Laâyoune, Casablanca, Fez, Taounate, Tangier, Azemmour, Guercif, Oulad Teïma, and Tamesna (on the outskirts of Rabat), resulting in the arrest of 12 suspected terrorists. Aged between 18 and 40, all had allegedly pledged allegiance to Daesh and were actively involved in planning and coordinating large-scale terrorist attacks, according to initial findings.
Given the extreme threat posed by the cell, the operation involved elite sniper teams in anticipation of any potential resistance, specialized assault units trained in scaling operations, explosive detection experts, and police canine units deployed to search for explosive materials in suspected locations.
Meanwhile, BCIJ officers evacuated residents from nearby apartments to ensure their safety and minimize risks associated with counterterrorism operations in urban environments. To prevent any violent resistance from the members of this terrorist cell, special forces even deployed stun grenades as a preventive measure.
Explosives and Terrorist Equipment
Following the successful interventions of DGST special forces, who strictly followed a security protocol designed for major terrorist threats, BCIJ teams conducted searches in the homes of the arrested cell members. The discoveries were chilling.
In Tamesna, explosive devices in the process of being assembled were seized, including four modified gas canisters packed with nails and chemical compounds, wired to mobile phones acting as remote detonation devices.
A booby-trapped pressure cooker, also filled with nails and explosive chemicals, was found at the scene, along with an arsenal of bladed weapons of various sizes, a sum of money in U.S. dollars, and bags containing various suspicious chemicals.
The searches also uncovered long-range binoculars, replicas of firearms, digital storage devices, identity-concealing masks, a Daesh flag, and documents detailing reconnaissance of targeted sites and infrastructure.
Daesh Behind the Plot
The DGSN-DGST hub revealed that, based on intelligence gathered and ongoing field investigations, the terrorist cell was in direct contact with a senior Daesh leader operating in the Sahel. This figure was a member of the so-called "External Operations Commission," responsible for exporting terrorist actions beyond the Sahel and Sahara regions.
This top Daesh operative not only provided financial and logistical support to the cell but also supplied detailed digital content instructing members on executing terrorist attacks.
Another major revelation: investigations uncovered a highly structured organization within the cell. The mastermind assigned a specific hierarchy, with a group of "coordinators" responsible for relaying attack plans to other members. The cell comprised "operatives" tasked with carrying out attacks and a dedicated support and financing branch that received direct funding from Daesh, bypassing traditional banking systems.
Targets
The dismantled terrorist cell, acting under Daesh’s orders, had planned multiple attacks. One of their objectives was to target law enforcement officers through ambushes, kidnappings, and gruesome executions.
Strategic economic and security sites, as well as foreign interests in Morocco, were also on their list. The cell had even planned large-scale arson attacks.
The DGSN-DGST statement further confirmed that reconnaissance missions had already been conducted in several Moroccan cities by cell members. They had received official approval from Daesh’s Sahel branch, confirmed via a video urging them to take action.
All suspects have been placed in custody as part of an ongoing judicial investigation led under the supervision of the anti-terrorism prosecutor's office. Authorities aim to determine the full extent of their connections to Daesh’s African branch and identify any potential national and international links.
This major counterterrorism operation highlights the growing terrorist threat posed by Daesh’s regional branches in Africa, particularly in the Sahel.
Moroccan intelligence services have repeatedly warned their international and regional partners about the rising terrorist risks linked to this area. This follows the dismantling of numerous extremist cells affiliated with both Al-Qaeda and Daesh in the Sahel and Sahara.
These groups had not only received official approval for their terrorist plans but also financial and logistical support, along with promises of safe havens in case of successful attacks.
Vigilance remains essential.
