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Spain arrests two Islamic terror suspects wanted by Morocco | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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MADRID, Spain (AP) – Spanish police have arrested two Islamic terror suspects wanted by Morocco, including one sought over a string of suicide attacks that killed 45 people in Casablanca in May 2003, officials said.

The two Moroccan men were arrested Tuesday in Melilla, a Spanish enclave located on Morocco’s northern coast, on warrants issued by Morocco, the Civil Guard said in a statement.

It identified the suspects as Ali Aarass, sought over the Casablanca bombings, and Mohamed El Bay, accused of being part of an Islamic terror ring broken up in Morocco in February.

The Civil Guard says El Bay had the mission of establishing ties with traffickers in Central Europe in order to obtain weapons and explosives.

The suspects face no charges in Spain, which will begin extradition proceedings, the Civil Guard said.

The Casablanca bombings stunned the relatively moderate Muslim country, a popular vacation spot. The bombings targeted a Jewish community center and cemetery, a hotel, a restaurant and a Spanish social club, and killed 33 people in addition to 12 bombers.

Morocco’s government says the terror network dismantled in February had plotted to assassinate Cabinet ministers and members of the North African kingdom’s Jewish community. A total of 32 people were arrested.