Morocco 'dismantles Islamic State-linked cell planning attacks' on tourist sites

Four suspected cell members were detained and weapons were seized from them during the arrest operation in the Atlantic coast resort town of Essaouira, said the interior ministry.

The suspects also had a manuscript in which they pledged allegiance to IS and declared a jihad state in the Maghreb countries.

They had been planning to carry out "large-scale" attacks on "sensitive installations and tourist sites of Essaouira", it said in a statement.

The group also intended to "broaden the scope of its terrorist operations to other cities of the kingdom", according to the ministry.

The suspects will appear in court as soon as the ongoing investigation of the public prosecutor ends, the ministry said.

The security services in Morocco have regularly announced the dismantling of IS cells and arrests of suspected extremist recruiters in the past two years.

In April, authorities announced the dismantling of an alleged "terrorist cell" that was recruiting volunteers for IS.

Seven members were captured as part of the IS-affiliated cell, which was active in the northern city of Fez and nearby town of Moulay Yacoub, an interior ministry statement said at the time.

They "recruited and sent Moroccan volunteers to Iraq and Syria" where the militant group holds territory, it said.

Police seized bladed weapons, military uniforms, money and electronic equipment during the raid, and local reports claimed the brother of one the members was allegedly arrested in a similar previous raid and convicted for planning attacks in Europe.

The kingdom has been spared deadly militant attacks since a 2011 bombing in the central city of Marrakesh killed 17 people, mainly European tourists.

Agencies contributed to this report