DR ‹ › The Rabat Court of Appeals' Chamber of Crimes Specialized in Terrorism Cases handed down sentenceses, Wednesday, against members of the terrorist cell known as «The Caliphal Lions in the Far West», affiliated with «ISIS». The cell had been dismantled in February following a lengthy security operation. The court imposed a combined total of 151 years in prison. The main defendant was sentenced to 23 years, two others received 18 years each, several defendants were sentenced to 12 years, six received 10-year sentences, and two others were handed four-year prison terms. Security services had placed the cell under surveillance for nearly a year before intervening to dismantle it. Arrests were carried out in several cities, including Laayoune, Casablanca, Fez, Taounate, Tangier, Azemmour, Guercif, Oulad Teima, and Tamesna, on the outskirts of Rabat. According to the case file, the cell was preparing to carry out terrorist attacks in Morocco under direct instructions and incitement from a senior ISIS leader active in the Sahel, identified as Abderrahmane Sahraoui, a Libyan national. Investigative and search operations conducted as part of the case led to the seizure of a large quantity of equipment and materials linked to the preparation of what authorities described as an imminent and highly dangerous terrorist plot. These included ready-to-use explosive devices, materials suspected of being intended for the manufacture of explosives, as well as bladed weapons.
