Posted on 04/14/2007 9:59:17 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
RABAT, Morocco - Two brothers strapped with explosives blew themselves up near an American cultural center in Casablanca Saturday, and police arrested another three suspects — including one wearing an explosives belt — hours later, an official said.
The attacks came just days after three suspected militants blew themselves up as they were cornered by police in Casablanca, and al-Qaida claimed suicide car bombings in neighboring Algeria that killed 33 people. The attacks have stoked new fears of Islamic terrorism in North Africa — especially in Morocco, long known for its stability.
The Moroccan and Algerian governments have not addressed an al-Qaida link or inspiration in the bombings earlier this week. Both countries have allied themselves with the United States in its fight against terrorism.
Saturday's two bombers detonated their explosives in the middle of a boulevard that runs behind the American cultural center, killing themselves and wounding a woman, the official said, adding that the three suspects were arrested in the neighborhood, which is also home to the American Consulate and a synagogue.
After the arrests, a second explosives belt was found beside an upscale hotel in the same neighborhood struck by the bombings, the Interior Ministry official said on condition of anonymity, citing ministry policy.
The official said the belts linked the bombers with three men who blew themselves up in Casablanca on Tuesday after being cornered by police. A police sniper shot and killed a fourth man who authorities said appeared to be preparing to detonate a bomb.
The official MAP news agency reported, meanwhile, that police had arrested the leader of a group responsible for the Tuesday suicide bombings and another last month in a cybercafe in Casablanca, Morocco's largest city.
It did not identify the suspect or say when the arrest took place. The agency said hideouts where explosive devices were put together also had been uncovered, along with identities of members of the group now being sought.
The ministry official identified one of the bombers who killed himself Saturday as Mohamed Maha, born in Casablanca in 1975. He was not previously known to police. The second man was later identified as his brother, Omar Maha, born in 1984 in Casablanca — and wanted in the earlier explosions, MAP reported.
On Wednesday, 33 people were killed and more than 200 were injured in al-Qaida-claimed suicide car bombings in neighboring Algeria that targeted the prime minister's office and a police station.
The U.S. Embassy warned of possible new attacks in Algiers on Saturday. In a statement, it said attacks could strike near the central post office and the ENTV national television headquarters. It did not cite a source for its information.
Algerian authorities have identified one of Wednesday's three reported suicide bombers who drove the cars laden with explosives, state radio and television reported.
The French-language daily Liberte identified the bomber as 23-year-old Bilal Oudina, who has been jailed three times for crimes linked to drug trafficking. It did not cite sources for its information. The paper said he began to pray and frequent Islamist circles six months ago and disappeared from his neighborhood three months ago.
Moroccan investigators have not uncovered links between the Casablanca and Algiers bombings, but Interior Minister Chakib Benmoussa has said "we don't rule it out."
Al-Qaida in Islamic North Africa claimed responsibility for the Algeria attacks, posting pictures, names and details about the bombers on an Islamic Web site known as a clearing house for extremist groups' material. The site said the man who attacked the prime minister's office, identified as Mouaz bin Jabl, used 1,500 pounds of explosives. Last month, a suicide attack at a cybercafe in Casablanca killed the bomber and injured four others.
The Muslim kingdom of Morocco has long been known for its stability despite the violence in neighboring Algeria. But in May 2003, five suicide bombings around Casablanca killed 45 people, including a dozen bombers.
Authorities launched an unprecedented crackdown on suspected militants, arresting thousands of people, including some accused of working with al-Qaida and its affiliates to plot attacks in Morocco and abroad.
And the dems want to do away with the phrase “global war on terror.”
OH MAN why muslums want take on Rick place NORM
Policemen collect the remains of a suspected terrorist who blew himself up, in Morocco's commercial capital, Casablanca, Tuesday, April 10, 2007. Another man was shot and killed by police as he was about to detonate his explosives. The two men had been sought by police for their suspected role in the March 11 bombing of a Casablanca Internet cafe. (Photo/Abdeljalil Bounhar)
This doesn’t have anything to do with 911.
/sarcasm
It sounds like multiple failures on the part of the terrorists.
Sahara Dispute Limits Terror Fight
Townhall ^ | 4/13/07
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1817274/posts
With its endless expanse of desolate sands, the Western Sahara might not seem worth fighting over. But the thinly populated, Italy-sized region on Africa’s northwest coast is at the heart of a three-decade-long dispute that, U.S. officials and analysts say, inhibits the fight against terrorism across North Africa.
Any doubts about the seriousness of the terrorist problem in the region were undercut by attacks in Morocco, on Tuesday and Saturday, and Algeria, on Wednesday. In the latest attack, two suicide bombers blew themselves up in Casablanca near an American cultural center.
The incidents followed expressions of interest by al-Qaida in expanding its activities in the area.
It is a region that offers relatively easy access to potential targets across the Mediterranean in Europe. Detection of Muslim militants can be difficult in North Africa, with its undulating deserts and majestic mountains.
For three decades Morocco and Algeria have been divided over the phosphate-rich Western Sahara. Morocco claims sovereignty in the territory. Algeria supports the pro-independence Polisario Front rebels, who are based in Algeria, a short distance from the Western Saharan border.
(snip)
A Moroccan couple drives past a billboard reading, "Hand off my country" in Casablanca. Morocco's King Mohammed VI on Friday urged north African countries to form a united front against terrorism following suicide bombings in Algiers and Casablanca this week.(AFP/File/Abdelhak Senna)
Map locating Casablanca in Morocco. Moroccan security forces were hunting for 10 possible suicide bombers, a day after three militants blew themselves up in Casablanca as they were chased by police.(AFP/Graphic)
But Al queda is only in Afganistan, right?
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Hold on there! Doesn’t he know that Muslims are supposed to do these sort of thing...or so say all right thinking true blue yankee doodle dandy Americans.
The ‘Rats know better. They just prefer lying to telling the truth, especially if they can find a way to blame the President.
My husband was fighting Muslim terrorist when he was stationed Morocco during the cold war.
The Muzzies have tons of patience, just waiting for the right time to attack.
Thanks!
Morocco’s fault. Don’t they know they’re only making more terrorists?
Moroccans ask themselves: Why do they hate us?
Also notice the usual disparity between the misleading headline and the actual story.
“Suicide bombs hit U.S. center in Morocco”
Kind of sounds like they blew up our embassy or a cultural center or something, doesn’t it? But, no, you read the story and it turns out they just managed to blow up themselves.
You hardly need to look at the byline to know this headline was written by AP.
Nancy Pelosi and Tom Lantos are on their way to Morocco to begin a dialogue.
Ping
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