Morocco arrests seven ‘militant recruiters for ISIS’

Morocco’s interior ministry said on Friday that seven militants have been arrested for recruiting fighters to join the ranks of the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq (ISIS).

The suspects were active in the central cities of Fez and Outat El Haj and in Zayou in the north and also planned attacks against Morocco itself, a statement said.

It did not say when the arrests were made, but identified the ringleader as a “teacher” and said they had already managed to send several fighters to Iraq and Syria.

Independent newspaper Akhbar al-Yaoum said, however, that a total of nine suspects had been rounded up and that most were street peddlers aged between 20-30.

Morocco has frequently reported the arrest of jihadists and expressed deep concern about the number of its citizens fighting in Syria and Iraq and about those who have returned to prepare attacks at home.

In July, authorities announced that security had been boosted in the face of what they called a “serious threat”.