Casablanca judicial police arrested Wednesday three extremists affiliated with ISIS for their alleged involvement in the murder of a policeman while on duty.
The arrest was carried out in coordination between the national brigade of the judicial police and the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST).
A statement from the Directorate General of National Security (DGSN) said operations resulted in the arrest of the two main suspects in Casablanca and in the Sidi Hrazem region, near Fez, while the third defendant was apprehended in another aid in Casablanca.
The suspects have recently pledged allegiance to the alleged emir of ISIS and were planning to participate in a terrorist plot to underminee public order, according to the initial investigation.
They had decided to attack a police officer in order to execute him and take his weapon with the intention of robbing a bank.
The investigations have shown that the first two suspects were responsible for the execution of the police officer and the mutilation of his body.
The suspects captured the police officer while on duty, they assaulted him with a knife and stole his vehicle and his weapon, before burning his body in a rural area.
During search operations, the knife used in this attack was found and the victim’s handcuffs and gun were recovered.
Investigations are ongoing to identify possible accomplices, added the statement.