Alleged Member of Terror Cell behind Spain Attacks Arrested in Morocco

Moroccan security services arrested in the eastern city of Oujda an alleged member of the terrorist cell that committed the attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils last Thursday and Friday.

“A Moroccan linked to the terrorist cell that committed the attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils was arrested,” reported the Spanish news website Vozpopuli, citing police sources.

According to the Spanish website, the suspect was reportedly in connection with Moussa Oukabir, one of the suspects shot by the Catalan police in Cambrils.

The news portal stated that according to Spanish police revelations, Moroccan services are cooperating with their Spanish counterparts in the investigations into the latest attacks.

“The Directorate General of Territorial Surveillance (DGST) has informed Spain of its willingness to provide information on the persons involved” in these attacks, the website said.

Another news portal, El Confidencial, indicated that investigators are working on the assumption that the Daesh-claimed attacks were planned in Mrirt, Morocco, the native village of most suspects.

Key members of the terrorist cell were reportedly present in Morocco during the second half of July and some of them returned to Spain just days before the attack. One of the suspects, Driss Oukabir, who has been arrested by the police, arrived in Spain on August 13 coming from Tangier airport, El Confidencial said.

Moroccan authorities have raised security vigilance in the Kingdom’s northern region, especially near the Spain-occupied enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, in a bid to thwart any infiltration attempts or smuggling of arms by terrorists.