Moroccan authorities revealed details Monday on the weapons and explosives recovered during the dismantling of two terrorist cells in Tamesna and Boudenib last week, highlighting the advanced stage of their attack preparations.
Abderrahmane El Youssoufi Alaoui, head of the technical and risk management division at the Directorate of Judicial Police, said preliminary forensic analysis is ongoing, particularly regarding the serial markings on the seized firearms. Authorities are working with Interpol databases to trace their origins and potential criminal history.
“The weapons are diverse in type, use, and level of danger,” Alaoui said during a press conference held by the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations. However, he noted that the firearms’ identifying markings had been intentionally erased and repainted to obstruct tracking efforts.
A search of the suspects’ residences yielded a cache of firearms, live ammunition, and suspicious equipment, along with chemical substances in powder and liquid form. Some of these chemicals, including ammonium nitrate and TATP, are commonly used in improvised explosive devices.
“The seized chemicals and modified gas canisters were intended for manufacturing explosive devices,” Alaoui said. “Some were packed with nails to maximize casualties and destruction.”
Authorities confirmed that four explosive devices—pressure cookers and modified gas canisters—were fully assembled and ready for remote detonation.
“These materials are originally intended for civilian use, but in certain cases, they are repurposed for criminal, terrorist, and destructive acts,” Alaoui said, warning of the dangers associated with mishandling such substances.
Officials underscored the high risk posed by mixing these chemicals, which could result in uncontrolled explosions, severe injuries, or structural damage.
The Moroccan security apparatus has foiled several similar plots in recent years, reinforcing the country’s counterterrorism strategy aimed at dismantling threats before they materialize.
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