Moroccan security authorities revealed yesterday that they launched a coordinated campaign on the 19th of July under the supervision of the prosecution services that targeted 143 people suspected of being affiliated to extremist organisations including ISIS. This campaign is the largest to be launched in the country to combat terrorist threats to the security and stability of it.

The authorities said that of those 143 individuals, 52 people were put on remand in light of terrorist threats that are continually growing at both a regional and international level. According to a statement released by the Ministry of Interior, a copy of which Asharq Al-Awsat received, this pre-emptive operation involved suspects that belonged to various ranks of terrorist organisations and are from different regions of the Kingdom. It added that they are accused of plotting numerous terrorist attacks that they intended to carry out in the near future within the country and abroad. They are also accused of using social networking sites to spread propaganda for ISIS and other terrorist organisations, and corrupting minors in order to plunge them into hotbeds of conflict.

The statement added that as a result of searches carried out at the homes of suspects, many pamphlets and documents relating to how to manufacture explosives, poisons and techniques for remote detonation were seized. Instructions on how to use various firearms in addition to a collection of books that permit suicide attacks and flags with ISIS’ emblem were also found.

According to the same source, firearms, cold weapons, a quantity of live ammunition, cans containing screws and a range of electrical equipment and wires that are used to make improvised explosive devices were also seized.