Morocco mobilising security forces against ISIS threat

With the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) militant group announcing the formation of an Islamic caliphate covering regions in Iraq and Syria, the Moroccan government has recommended the mobilisation of security services to foil a "serious terrorist threat" targeting the north African nation.

The cabinet, convened Thursday under the chairmanship of head of government Abdelilah Benkirane, hailed the efforts made by security services to foil the "serious terrorist threat" targeting Morocco, Mustapha El Khalfi, the country's communication minister and government spokesperson, said in a statement following the cabinet meeting.

El Khalfi said that Interior Minister Mohamed Hassad, who gave a presentation during the cabinet meeting, affirmed that information from intelligence services showed the existence of a serious terrorist threat targeting Morocco, linked mainly to the growing number of Moroccans belonging to organisations operating in Syria and Iraq, the Maghreb Arab Press (MAP) reported.

He noted that, among these Moroccan fighters, there were leaders who did not hide their intentions to carry out a terrorist attack against Morocco.

It was likely that these activists required the help of terrorist groups in north Africa or Moroccan extremists who swore allegiance to the ISIS, he said.

Other reports indicated that some terrorist groups were planning to develop explosives undetectable by electronic detection systems, Hassad said.