Morocco’s Interior Ministry said Wednesday that unauthorized protests across multiple cities escalated into violence, leaving at least 286 people injured and causing significant property damage.
Ministry spokesman Rachid El Khalfi said 263 members of the security forces and 23 civilians were hurt in clashes that broke out Tuesday evening and stretched past midnight. One civilian in Oujda required medical follow-up.
Authorities reported that protesters set fires and destroyed 142 security vehicles and 20 private cars. Several banks, shops, and public offices were also vandalized in cities including Agadir, Tiznit, Oujda, and Inzegane. In Oujda, demonstrators even blocked an ambulance, preventing emergency responders from assisting the wounded.
The Interior Ministry said security forces faced stone-throwing, Molotov cocktails, and knives during the unrest. Rioters looted commercial premises in several regions.
A breakdown of incidents showed the most damage in Oujda, where 51 officers were injured and 40 vehicles damaged, and in Temara, with 44 officers injured and 60 vehicles damaged. Other affected regions included Beni Mellal, Errachidia, Berkane, Meknes, Rabat, and Casablanca.
Authorities said 409 people have been placed in custody pending investigations under the supervision of the public prosecutor, while others were released after identity checks.
The ministry stressed that the protests, organized in recent days via anonymous calls on social media, were unauthorized. Security forces intervened “in strict compliance with legal and professional standards,” it said, while also emphasizing that Morocco guarantees the right to peaceful protest within the limits of the law.
The Interior Ministry vowed to prosecute anyone proven to have committed criminal acts during the unrest, stressing that law enforcement will continue to protect public order and safeguard both rights and freedoms.
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