11 people sentenced to 20 years in prison on terror-related charges

The first instance criminal chamber for terrorism affairs at the annexe of Salé's appeal court handed, Thursday, verdicts ranging from 6 to 20 years in prison to 11 suspects sued in terrorism-related cases.

The court sentenced two defendants to 20 years in prison, seven accused to 15 years, and two others to six years, who had been prosecuted for «forming a gang to prepare and commit terror acts as part of a collective project aimed at seriously undermining public order and condoning terrorist acts and organizations that constitute a terrorist crime».

In January 2017, the central Bureau of judicial investigations (BCIJ), under the general Directorate for national territory surveillance, had dismantled this terrorist cell in the cities of Tangier and Meknes.

The members of this cell, who sought to join the ranks of ISIS fighters, planned to carry out terrorist acts aimed at undermining the security of property and people, says a statement by the Interior ministry.

The searches carried out led to the seizure of electronic equipment and knives, as well as manuscripts promoting extremist thought, according to the same source.