RABAT (AFP) - Nine Islamic extremists convicted over the Casablanca bombings that killed 45 people in 2003, including one facing the death sentence, tunnelled their way out of a Moroccan prison early Monday, officials said. The Kenitra "prison administration noted the escape Monday morning and all measures have been taken to find the escaped prisoners and establish who was responsible," the justice ministry said in a statement quoted by the MAP state news agency.The Casablanca bombings were the deadliest ever in Morocco, killing 45 people including 12 suicide bombers, and injuring scores more.
| Which is why they guarded the bloodthirsty killers so closely ... |
Abderrahim Mahtade of the Annasir association said one of the nine had been sentenced to death, six others to life imprisonment and two were given 20 years in jail, and all came from Casablanca. Mahtade, who is the president of Annasir, earlier said seven of those who escaped were doing life terms. His association works for the wellbeing of several hundred Islamic detainees in the north African kingdom.
The prisoners tunnelled their way out, according to a source in the ministry of the interior, who told AFP that details of the fugitives had been released to help the search, while border guards had been placed on alert.
| Must have watched the Great Escape. Dug their way out in Harry. Scattered the dirt in the gardens they were tending to fool the keepers. Took bedboards to shore up the tunnel. Built a minature railroad and had candles to light the way. Had to be it, right? Couldn't have just borrowed a Bobcat and dug their way out in an afternoon, could they? |
"We assume responsibility for our actions and there should be no search for accomplices among detainees or in the prison administration," the letter said, according to Mahtade. "We will hurt nobody, but we are glad to get our beloved freedom back."
An estimated more than 900 Islamic extremists have been detained in some 10 Moroccan prisons. On Monday, many started a 24-hour hunger strike, in the latest of a series of protests over bad detention conditions.
| We have openings in Guantamano if you're interested ... |