Es-Smara blasts, a ‘terrorist act’ that would not go unpunished – Moroccan UN representative

The projectiles fired into Smara on Saturday killing one and injuring three others are a “terrorist act” and an “act of war” that will not go unpunished, said Omar Hilale Morocco’s permanent representative to the UN.

Speaking to the press after the renewal of the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Sahara for another year, Ambassador Omar Hilale said that while the judicial investigation was ongoing, the attack bore the hallmarks of the Polisario.

“International law, international humanitarian law and the Security Council Resolutions describe any attack or targeting of civilians as an act of terrorism and war,” Hilale told reporters.

The attack left a young man who was about to get engaged dead and injured three others, two are in a critical condition in the hospital of Laayoune.

“The perpetrators will assume the legal responsibility but also political responsibility. I am not referring to those who committed the attacks, but also to those who back them. Those who host them and supply them with missiles, Katyushas and mortars,” he said.

A set of indicators point to the Polisario starting with their statement number 901 raising bombardments of three regions including Smara, he said.

“This statement explicitly mentions projectiles targeting Es-Smara in the night from Saturday to Sunday,” he said, noting that the Polisario has not denied the attack.

“In the absence of a denial, everything holds the Polisario responsible,” he said.