IED event in Morocco on Wed 19th February 2025

The mastermind behind the vast terrorist plot that was thwarted on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, has now been identified. He is a Libyan national named Abderrahman Saharaoui, revealed Cherkaoui Habboub, director of the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ), during a press conference held this Monday, February 24.

Serving as a senior leader of the Daesh terrorist organization in the Sahel, Abderrahman Saharaoui "blessed" this macabre plan via a video message sent to members of the dismantled network, which he himself had dubbed "Lions of the Caliphate in the Far Maghreb." He was therefore the one who orchestrated the terrorist acts and directly incited the arrested cell to carry them out.

Within the Daesh organization in the Sahel, Abderrahman Saharaoui is the head of the "external operations" committee, responsible for internationalizing terrorist attacks outside the Sahel-Saharan region, the BCIJ stated in a press release. He reportedly oversaw the cell's financing and logistical support, while also providing digital content detailing the methods used to carry out the attacks.

During Monday's press conference, Cherkaoui Habboub reiterated that twelve people had been arrested as part of this operation. Aged between 18 and 40, they share a common characteristic: their low level of education. Eight of them have not gone beyond the baccalaureate, three barely have a primary school education, and only one has completed one year of university studies.

Their arrest took place in nine cities across the Kingdom, following a year-long manhunt and surveillance, Cherkaoui Habboub stated. Three suspects were apprehended in Casablanca, two in Tamesna, one in Guercif, one in Taounate, one in Tangier, one in Fez, one in Azemmour, one in Laayoune, and one in Oulad Tayma.

Investigations revealed that this terrorist cell operated according to a perfectly defined hierarchical structure, under the direction of the same ISIS leader. Terrorist plans were communicated exclusively to a small team of "coordinators," who then relayed orders to other members, either directly or through indirect channels.

Another group, called "the registered members", was responsible for carrying out the attacks, while a third group dealt with the financing and received funds directly from Daesh without going through traditional banking channels.