The authorities in Morocco said on Monday that they have arrested an Italian national accused of preparing attacks for extremist Islamist group ISIS. The suspect, who was not identified, was arrested at Oujda airport near the Algerian border. The suspect resided in Belgium but had spent a long time in Casablanca after arriving in Morocco last year, according to the report.
In a statement, Morocco’s Ministry of Interior said that the unidentified man had been “brainwashed” by the fanatical Muslim group and had unsuccessfully tried to join the organization’s training camps back in 2014.
The statement said the Italian was arrested Wednesday at Oujda airport near the Algerian border. It added that he was ordinarily resident in Belgium but had spent time in Casablanca, Morocco’s commercial capital, after arriving in Morocco in June 2015.
Few other details were released. The arrest was one of several linked to IS. Last month Moroccan officials announced the arrest of a Chadian national suspected of plotting to attack Western diplomatic buildings and tourist sites.
