Casablanca attacks
The attacks in Casablanca on May 16, 2003 were coordinated suicide attacks on Jewish institutions and places of Western lifestyle in Casablanca, Morocco. Twelve suicide bombers from the Casablanca slums killed 33 people and themselves. Over 100 people, including 97 Muslims, were injured.
Perpetration
Two other assassins could be arrested. All fourteen attackers were Moroccan nationals. Four other accomplices were sentenced to death and another 30 received life sentences for preparing further attacks.
The attacks were motivated by Islamists ; they are assigned to the Salafiya Jihadia group.
Consequences / classification
A few days earlier, Al Qaeda had carried out similar suicide attacks in Riyadh . The attacks changed the political atmosphere in Morocco . In a reaction to the attacks, the Moroccan King Mohammed VI. the fight against terrorism and the democratization and modernization of the country as equal tasks. It is from whom? fears that Morocco will continue to be a recruiting base for terrorist groups. The security authorities uncovered several terrorist networks, some of which were also linked to representatives of the Moroccan military , the police and the gendarmerie .
In March and April 2007, seven attackers blew themselves up in Casablanca. One person died and around 40 were injured.
Web links
- "Imam with soap" - Morocco: Radical Islamists have been preaching for a long time ( WoZ May 22, 2003)
- 41 dead in terrorist attacks / arrests in Casablanca - FAZ.net May 18, 2003
- Analysis: Casablanca bombings (PDF)
- ERRI Briefing with description of attack
- Terror blasts rock Casablanca - BBC
- Moroccans march against terror - BBC