MOROCCO 'BOMBER BROTHER' KILLED!
The police raid took place in an impoverished residential area. One of the three suspected militants who blew themselves up during a police raid in Morocco is the brother of an internet cafe bomber, officials say.
Four suspected Islamist militants and a police officer died in three explosions in the city of Casablanca on Tuesday.
A BBC correspondent says Abdelfattah Raydi, who blew up the internet cafe in the city last month, is believed to have led a major militant cell.
Suicide bombers killed more than 40 people in Casablanca in 2003.
They targeted the city's ancient Jewish centre, tourist spots and a diplomatic complex.
'Shocking'
The BBC's Richard Hamilton in Morocco says calm has returned to the streets of Casablanca after one of the country's bloodiest days.
It happened so suddenly, and we just began to hear heavy gunshots and then there was an explosion
Khadir, CasablancaBBC News wesbite reader
It has emerged that police received a tip-off before they surrounded a house in the poor El Fida district.
The interior ministry says that one of the men who blew himself up on Tuesday was the brother of the internet cafe bomber.
Mr Raydi was released from prison by royal pardon after being arrested in connection with the 2003 Casablanca bombings.
Police said the man they shot dead, named as Mohamed Mentala, was wanted in connection with the 2003 attacks.
Our correspondent says it is now known that two of those apprehended on Tuesday were also sought in connection with that event.
'Maghreb al-Qaeda'
Moroccan analyst Mohamed Ben-Madani told the BBC many Moroccans would find Tuesday's events in Casablanca shocking.
The Maghreb Review editor says the militants are believed to belong to al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb, previously known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC).
"This group trained in Algeria and have learned their techniques from Iraq as well as in Afghanistan," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
He says the group have recently been active in Tunisia and Mauritania.
"But their main training, recruitment and finance is from Algeria where from the beginning of April this year 33 Algerian soldiers have lost their lives to them," he said.
"It's very hard to contain this group which has become more and more violent, so Morocco is very concerned - particularly as elections are coming up in September."
BBC NEWS REPORT.
Four suspected Islamist militants and a police officer died in three explosions in the city of Casablanca on Tuesday.
A BBC correspondent says Abdelfattah Raydi, who blew up the internet cafe in the city last month, is believed to have led a major militant cell.
Suicide bombers killed more than 40 people in Casablanca in 2003.
They targeted the city's ancient Jewish centre, tourist spots and a diplomatic complex.
'Shocking'
The BBC's Richard Hamilton in Morocco says calm has returned to the streets of Casablanca after one of the country's bloodiest days.
It happened so suddenly, and we just began to hear heavy gunshots and then there was an explosion
Khadir, CasablancaBBC News wesbite reader
It has emerged that police received a tip-off before they surrounded a house in the poor El Fida district.
The interior ministry says that one of the men who blew himself up on Tuesday was the brother of the internet cafe bomber.
Mr Raydi was released from prison by royal pardon after being arrested in connection with the 2003 Casablanca bombings.
Police said the man they shot dead, named as Mohamed Mentala, was wanted in connection with the 2003 attacks.
Our correspondent says it is now known that two of those apprehended on Tuesday were also sought in connection with that event.
'Maghreb al-Qaeda'
Moroccan analyst Mohamed Ben-Madani told the BBC many Moroccans would find Tuesday's events in Casablanca shocking.
The Maghreb Review editor says the militants are believed to belong to al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb, previously known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC).
"This group trained in Algeria and have learned their techniques from Iraq as well as in Afghanistan," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
He says the group have recently been active in Tunisia and Mauritania.
"But their main training, recruitment and finance is from Algeria where from the beginning of April this year 33 Algerian soldiers have lost their lives to them," he said.
"It's very hard to contain this group which has become more and more violent, so Morocco is very concerned - particularly as elections are coming up in September."
posted by jackaranda at 8:21 pm
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