Nine radical Islamists convicted in the Casablanca attacks of May 16, 2003, escaped today from the prison in the city of Kenitra (40 km north of Rabat). After learning of the disappearance of the terrorists, the security forces mobilized in an unprecedented search in Morocco, without the escaped Islamists being located at the moment.
The Ministry of Justice acknowledged the escape in an official statement. And he recalled how two of those who fled were sentenced to capital punishment, another four to life imprisonment and the last three to 20 years; all for direct or indirect involvement in the Casablanca attacks, which caused the death of 45 people, including four Spaniards.
The Alawite ministry stresses that an investigation is already open to find out how they managed to escape, despite surveillance. The Kenitra prison is the largest in Morocco and is equipped with one of the best surveillance systems in the country. This is the first time that members of the Islamist group have managed to escape, they have tried it on other occasions without result.
At this time, the security forces are organizing special devices to flank their escape on the main and secondary roads. They have also launched special groups that track different areas between Kenitra and Casablanca, and the ministry confirms that there is an order to monitor the beaches, to prevent them from setting sail in a boat, although this probability is weak.
ACN Press
