11 IS-linked suspects held in Morocco

Rabat, Oct 15 : Moroccan security services have arrested atleast 11 people with suspected links to the Islamic State (IS) group, the Interior Ministry announced in a statement.

According to the statement issued on Saturday, the suspects were active in the neighbouring northern cities of Fez and Meknes in the economic capital Casablanca and in the central city of Khouribga, Xinhua reported.

Deeming the suspects as forming an "extremely dangerous" terrorist cell, the statement said that they were plotting terror attacks in the sensitive areas in coordination with an affiliate of the IS.

Police arrested the "suspected mastermind of the cell and one of his accomplices" in a raid in the cell's safe-house in Fez.

They also seized firearms, ammunition, knives, gas canisters, and chemical products used in bomb-making, the statement added.

According to Moroccan authorities, the security services have busted around 50 terrorist cells, including over 40 with links to the IS group, since 2015.