Suspected bomb plot by ISIS in Morocco foiled with US help
December 18, 2021, 9:10 am

Suspected bomb plot by ISIS in Morocco foiled with US help

Flag of Morocco

The Asharq Al-Awsat reported that Moroccan counter-terror police said Friday, security forces with US support have foiled a suspected bomb plot by ISIS and arrested a supporter of the organization.

Morocco's Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation (BCIJ) said in a statement: "This arrest is the culmination of close collaboration between (Moroccan security forces) and US law-enforcement."The statement added: The arrested suspect was "an extremist belonging to ISIS" from the Sala Al-Jadida region north of Rabat.

According to preliminary inquiries the man had pledged allegiance to the group.

Terrorism-Representative image/Shutterstock

The statement added that he had planned to join foreign militant training camps "before deciding to join a terror plot in Morocco using explosive devices."

Egypt urges dialogue to end diplomatic rift between Algeria and Morocco

The police subsequently seized electronic devices and materials used for the preparation of explosives.

The BCIJ said: "This security operation highlights the importance and effectiveness of bilateral cooperation between (Moroccan security services) and US intelligence and security agencies in the fight against extremist violence and the threat of international terrorism."

Source: aawsat

Russia bans seven British citizens from entering the country in retaliation Egypt reports first three cases of the Omicron variant

Upon arriving to participate in the summit of the European Political Community, which includes around forty heads of state in Budapest, he said, "I look forward to sitting with the elected U.S. president and seeing how we will collectively ensure we meet challenges, including the threats from Russia and North Korea." He also noted that the strengthening of ties between Russia and North Korea poses a threat to the United States as well, according to reports from Agence France-Presse.

Before Trump's victory, Rutte expressed confidence that a united Washington would remain part of the defensive alliance, even if Trump became the 47th president of the United States. In an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF last Monday night, he stated that both Republicans and Democrats understand that NATO serves not only the security of Europe but also that of America. He added that both candidates are aware that the security of the United States is closely tied to NATO.

On Wednesday, NATO congratulated Trump on his victory but did not address the Ukrainian issue.

It is noteworthy that the relationship between the elected U.S. president and the defense alliance was not the best during his first term in the White House. Trump criticized NATO member states multiple times and even hinted at withdrawing from the alliance unless they increased their financial contributions.

Additionally, the issue of the Russian-Ukrainian war is one of the matters that complicate relations between the two sides, especially since Trump has repeatedly stated that he can end this ongoing conflict, which began in 2022, quickly. He implied that he had a peace plan between Kyiv and Moscow, while his vice president, JD Vance, revealed aspects of that plan, which stipulated Ukraine's commitment not to join NATO, thereby sending reassuring signals to the Russians.

Furthermore, many NATO member states in Europe fear that Trump might halt military aid to Ukraine after he previously criticized the U.S. for pouring funds into supporting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.