Morocco says Daesh cell busted, arms seized

RABAT — Morocco said Sunday it dismantled a "terrorist cell" and seized weapons earmarked for a string of assassinations in a nationwide operation targeting supporters of Daesh terror group.

The announcement follows last Wednesday's attack on the national museum in the capital of fellow North African state Tunisia, claimed by Daesh, that killed 20 foreign tourists and a policeman.

The interior ministry said the operation was carried out by a newly formed judicial investigations agency but did not specify the timing or the number of arrests.

Raids were carried out in several cities including Agadir in southwest Morocco, Marrakesh in the south, Boujaad in the centre, Tangiers in the north, Ain Harouda near Casablanca and in the Western Sahara.

"Firearms and a large amount of ammunition" to be used "to assassinate political, military and civilian figures", were seized near Agadir, the ministry said, quoted by the official MAP news agency.

It said members of the dismantled network had pledged allegiance to Daesh and vowed to target the Moroccan security forces and send recruits to fight in Syria and Iraq.