Reuters AlertNet Lite - REFILE-Morocco charges 24 Islamist bombing suspects

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Moroccao charges 24 Islamist bombing suspects

27 Mar 2007 20:05:47 GMT
Source: Reuters

RABAT, March 27 (Reuters) - Moroccan magistrates charged 24 Islamists on Tuesday with plotting a wave of bombings in the North African country's commercial capital Casablanca and in tourist destinations, court officials and lawyers said.

The 24 were arrested after their suspected leader, Abdelfattah Raydi, blew himself up at an Internet cafe on March 11 to prevent police taking him alive, the government says.

Lawyers said the suspects, who were remanded in custody, face up to 30 years in jail if convicted. They are due to go on trial soon, the lawyers said.

The government has said the 24 men, at least seven of whom are alleged to have been would-be suicide-bombers, planned to blow up foreign ships docking at Casablanca's port, hotels in Marrakech, Agadir and Essaouira, and other buildings including the police headquarters in Casablanca.

Morocco has been on high alert since February when security officials have said they had information about an Al Qaeda plot to attack the country. The government says the 24 suspects have no links with Al Qaeda.

The magistrate charged the accused with "forming a criminal gang with the aim of preparing and carrying out terrorist acts to undermine public order through spreading fear, terror and violence", court officials said.

They were also charged with "premeditated sabotage acts" and making explosives for use in the attacks. The court officials did not give details of the alleged planned attacks.

Among the 24 suspects is Yousef Khoudri, a 18-year-old mint seller who was accompanying Raydi, was wounded and arrested by police.

Most of the accused lived in the poorest slums of Casablanca. Thirteen suicide bombers emerged from the same slums in 2003 to blow themselves up at public places in the city, killing themselves and 32 other people.

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Last updated:Tue Mar 27 20:09:26 2007