- At least 39 people were killed in five simultaneous suicide bomb attacks in downtown Casablanca, Morocco's commercial and economic centre, last night. The attacks were against Spanish, Jewish and Belgian installations and "bear the stamp of international terrorism," according to Moroccan Interior Minister, El Mostapha Sahel.
The five attacks were carried out yesterday, 16 May, at 10 PM. Their simultaneous execution leaves no doubt of organised terrorism, and the fundamentalist Al Qaeda network has already been mentioned as the prime suspect. The attack comes only days after similar deadly strikes in Saudi Arabia and Chechnya, reminding the world that the network is not dead.
- The Kingdom of Morocco will neither be intimidated nor destabilised by those who seek today to attack the democratic and constitutional gains of our country, Minister Mustapha Sahel this morning said in a statement to the press. He held terrorists wanted "to cast doubt on the values of pluralism, tolerance and overture, values for the defence of which all Moroccans are, today as they have always been, unified behind their Sovereign."
While the Minister this morning had put the death toll at 24 persons - 10 of these believed to be suicide bombers - local authorities in Casablanca this afternoon reported about 39 people being killed and about 100 people injured. It was "not very probable" that this number would rise, as most already had been discharged from hospitals, the source added.
Minister Sahel stressed that Moroccans "will be able to find proper answers to face those who chose to kill innocents to satisfy their criminal instincts and those behind them." He also said King Mohammed VI "is permanently following the situation" and had "decided to visit Casablanca tomorrow" (Saturday).
The official assured the inhabitants of Casablanca, who were targeted by the attacks that "the authorities took all measures to ensure their security." Minister Sahel, who described the attacks as "international terrorism", said the suicide bombers had attacked Safir Hotel, the Belgian consulate, an old Jewish cemetery, a club of the Jewish community and a bomb exploded in the Casa España restaurant.
Most of the victims were registered at the Casa España restaurant, which is at Spain's cultural centre. Three of the bombs were reported to be car bombs, the other two probably suicide bombers with the explosives attached to them.
In the attack, also "a score of suicide bombers perished," the Minister held. Three suspects of Moroccan nationality have already been arrested and one of the bombers, injured in the attacks, "is being interrogated by the police," the Minister added.
The US government has voiced concern that "the allies of the United States" are now being targeted by terrorist organisations. The Spanish government was one of Washington's fiercest allies in the preparations to its attack on Iraq. Morocco, although not agreeing to an attack on Iraq, is among the US' closest allies in the Arab world.
The Moroccan government also bars Islamic groups from participating in the political scene. Its harsh policies against Islamic groups, good relations with the US and relatively relaxed relations with Israel have caused anti-government widespread resentments.
Morocco is also seen as dangerously close to riot and revolution by many Middle East observers. The country, which is the poorest in Northern Africa, has yet to meet popular desires for democratisation and implementation of human rights, as most powers remain with the King.
While yesterday's attacks not were a direct attack on the country's fragile economy - rather on its foreign policies - they are bound to have a negative impact on Morocco's main source of foreign revenues; tourism. Although Morocco as a tourist destination has, as yet, not been advised against by European governments, arrivals are bound to drop drastically. The tourism industry is also Morocco's main employer.
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