On March 11, three years to the day after the Madrid bombings, a cybercafe in Casablanca was hit. Two terrorists carrying explosive belts entered the cybercafe to surf the web. They were trying to connect to a terrorism-related site, and the manager wanted to prevent them from doing so. When he approached one of the two terrorists, the suicide bomber decided to activate his bomb, killing himself and injuring four. His accomplice fled but was later arrested by Moroccan police. The most credible explanation is that the two terrorists wanted to consult the website in order to receive their orders for an attack against some other target, most likely the police headquarters or some Western interests. But there's no doubt now: Morocco is under attack.
In their new book "Quand le Maroc sera islamiste" (When Morocco will be Islamist), journalists Nicolas Beau and Catherine Graciet paint a very bleak albeit realistic picture of the Kingdom. Indeed, one of the top French anti-terrorism officials, cited by Beau and Graciet, recently stated that Morocco is by far the most worrying country in North Africa. The official's comparison: "today, Morocco is 1916 Russia." Also, according to Spanish anti-terror judge Baltazar Garzon: "Morocco is the worst terrorist threat for Europe." He estimated that the al Qaeda-linked cells number more than 100 and that at least 1,000 terrorists are now being actively sought by Moroccan authorities.
| Western intelligence agencies fear specific attacks on Western interests in the country. Some are even warning of a "terrorist tsunami." |
In fact, Western intelligence agencies fear specific attacks on Western interests in the country. Some are even warning of a "terrorist tsunami." According to an article in the Algerian daily L'Expression, partially translated by The Croissant, the CIA recently beefed up its presence in Morocco and Algeria. Also, right before this latest incident, Moroccan authorities had closed in on an armed group that was preparing its own attack. The group was composed of 21 Algerians, eight of whom were subsequently arrested--the others are still on the run. |