S E C R E T RABAT 002460

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NOFORN

DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA, D/S/ITA AND NEA/MAG, CASABLANCA FOR CG,
CA AND RSO

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - CAPTION ADDED

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2025
TAGS: ASEC CASC PTER
SUBJECT: CORE EAC MEETS TO DISCUSS RECENT ARRESTS OF
MOROCCAN EXTREMISTS

REF: A. CIA WASHINGTON DC 790324


B. TD 314/71435-05

Classified By: DCM WAYNE J. BUSH, REASON 1.4


1. (S/NF) On December 5, 2005, Ambassador Riley convened a
core Emergency Action Committee meeting to discuss the recent
arrests of 17 Moroccan Islamic extremists by Moroccan
Security Services. Attending the core EAC were the
Ambassador, DCM, RSO, SIMO, POL, DAO, CA, MGT, and LEGAT. The
Core EAC was utilized to enable discussion of information
available from intelligence channels.


2. (S/NF) Core EAC reviewed reports covering the recent
arrests of Islamic extremists in Morocco (refer to reftel)
and discussed Moroccan press reports covering these arrests.
SIMO advised that while Moroccan press reports have generally
been accurate in providing names and numbers of suspects
arrested, there is no evidence to substantiate press reports
that these extremists intended or had the capacity to carry
out attacks in Morocco or that they were under the command
and control of Al-Qaeda, Al-Zarkawi, or any other
transnational terrorist group. SIMO advised that, at this
time, there is no evidence that Al-Qaeda has an organized
structure in Morocco. SIMO stated that the capability of
terrorist groups or sympathizers in Morocco remains
unchanged.


3. (S/NF) Core EAC reviewed Moroccan press reports that a
number of Moroccan political figures received e-mails from a
group calling itself the "Groupe Morocain Armee pour L,Islam
et Sharia" threatening them with death for deviating from the
path of Islam. Information beyond what appeared in the press
is not available, nor does the Mission or SIMO have
additional information about the organization making the
threat, which was hereto unknown. The significance of these
e-mail threats remains to be determined. Core EAC noted that,
at this time, there is no indication that the
above-referenced group actually exists and/or that it has the
capability to carry out attacks.


4. (S/NF) SIMO reported that there is no evidence of a
relationship between the recent arrest of 17 alleged
extremists and earlier arrests in Tangier. However, SIMO
noted information has not been available from Moroccan
authorities concerning the previous arrest of five alleged
extremists in Agadir.


5. (S/NF) The Core EAC discussed Moroccan government view
that arrested extremists, and possibly others, who had
volunteered to fight in Iraq could instead turn their
attention to targets within Morocco, but noted that there was
no information available that would indicate that any groups
or individuals had such plans. Core EAC members noted that
the fact that returned detainees from Guatanamo had been
among the group of 17 most recent arrests would suggest that
Moroccan authorities had not/not kept these individuals under
surveillance.


6. (S/NF) EAC members noted that while GOM may be reluctant
to share threat information harmful to Morocco's interest,
the USG had good visibility into the most recent arrests via
liasion with intelligence services.


7. (S/NF) The Core EAC members underscored the need to remain
vigilant and noted that some GOM authorities may be concerned
that extremists will act on predictions of the Islamic
Justice and Charity organization head that 2006 would be a
year in which an Arab monarch would fall. EAC members noted
recent visible increases in security practices, including
police searches at entrances to some shopping centers and
hotels.


8. (S/NF) The Core EAC concluded on the basis of this review
that there was not currently a basis to convene a full EAC
and/or to reconsider current security practices.
Riley