Arrests follow Marrakech bombing

Al-Qaida ‘loyal’ main suspect in the bombing of cafe popular with foreign tourists, police say Three people have been arrested in connection with the bombing of a busy tourist cafe in Marrakech, Morrocan officials said. The three suspects in the bombing of the Argana cafe in the popular Jamaa el-Fnaa square last week were all Moroccans, the country’s official news agency reported. Police said the main suspect in the blast, the country’s deadliest for eight years, was “loyal” to al-Qaida. Jamaa el-Fnaa , next to the city’s historic market area, draws crowds of tourists with its snake charmers, fire-eaters and tooth pullers. Most of those killed when a remote-controlled nail bomb was detonated at lunchtime on 28 April were foreign nationals – including one Briton, French, Dutch and Canadian tourists – and at least 23 others were injured by the explosion. The British victim was Peter Moss, a 59-year-old travel writer, broadcaster and comedian who lived in West Hampstead, London.A video released before the attack by al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb claimed responsibility. Counter-terrorism experts believe the group was one of several likely candidates. Moroccan authorities said the bomb had been packed with nails and set off remotely and not by a suicide bomber. Counter-terrorism experts from several countries, including Spain, have been sifting through the wreckage of the cafe. They said the man disguised himself as a foreign visitor to plant the explosives, devices that could be detonated remotely, authorities said. He had learned to make the devices on the internet, the statement said. It added that investigators found some explosive materials and tools that were discarded after the explosion. “He made many attempts to go to such hot spots as Chechnya and Iraq before deciding to make this attack on Moroccan soil,” the statement from Moroccan officials said. It did not provide any details about the other two suspects or about where the arrests had taken place The attack is the deadliest in Morocco since 12 suicide bombers killed 33 people in co-ordinated strikes in Casablanca in 2003. The latest attack was a blow to Morocco’s most important tourist city. Tourism is Morocco’s biggest source of foreign currency and the second biggest employer after agriculture. The attack adds to the challenges facing Morocco’s ruler, King Mohammed VI, as he tries to prevent the uprisings in the Arab world from reaching his normally stable kingdom. The monarch has promised to reform the constitution to placate pro-democracy protesters. He recently pardoned political prisoners, including some alleged militant Islamists. Morocco Global terrorism al-Qaida David Batty guardian.co.uk

Posted by on May 5, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.