The central bureau of judicial investigations (BCIJ) announced on Sunday January 26 that it had dismantled a terrorist cell in the advanced stages of preparing explosive attacks. This operation was carried out on the basis of precise information provided by the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST). Four radicalized individuals as well as three brothers, aged 26, 29, 31 and 35, were arrested in the region of Had Soualem, located in the province of Berrechid.
The security intervention took place in two separate homes: one in the Al Omrane housing estate and the other in the town of Ouled Jamaâ. It mobilized special forces under the DGST, explosives detection technicians, a dog unit specializing in the detection of IEDs, as well as a Royal Gendarmerie helicopter carrying specialized snipers.
The searches carried out in these two places led to the seizure of bladed weapons of different calibers, a large quantity of chemicals, fertilizers, sulfur, coal powder, as well as electrical wires, welding equipment and ribbons. adhesives. These elements, intended for the manufacture of explosive devices, were handed over to forensic experts for in-depth analyses.
The investigation, which was opened several weeks ago, began after the discovery of a video in which the suspects pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group. In this video, they promised to carry out imminent attacks. According to the authorities, the suspects had purchased, in a single day, chemical substances from several businesses located in Had Soualem before storing them to carry out tests to manufacture explosives.
-Two of the arrested brothers had also conducted reconnaissance in several locations, taking photos and videos of potential targets. According to information collected, these individuals planned to carry out explosive attacks before joining camps affiliated with the Islamic State group in the Sahel region.
The four suspects were placed in police custody as part of a judicial investigation supervised by the public prosecutor’s office responsible for terrorism cases. The investigation aims to identify all possible connections of this cell with other regional or international terrorist organizations, as well as to arrest anyone involved in this network.
