CORE EAC MEETS TO DISCUSS RECENT ARRESTS OF

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