Morocco, Europe Should Adopt Pre-emptive Strategy against ‘Lone Wolf’ Terrorists- Security Official

The threat of individuals perpetrating terrorist attacks independent of a command chain, known as “lone wolf” terrorists, is on the surge in the region requiring a close cooperation between Morocco and Europe through setting up a pre-emptive strategy, Abdelhak Khiame, head of Morocco’s FBI, the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ), said.

Moroccan security services have shown efficiency in dismantling 270 terrorist cells since 2002, said Abdelhak Khiame in an interview with Akhbar Al Yaoum, noting that the main challenge in counterterrorism now is about countering lone wolf threats.

Moroccan intelligence services have been exchanging information with their counterparts in other countries to fight threats emanating from solo terrorists, he said recalling that Morocco alerted on multiple occasions European security services on the dangers posed by lone wolves before they perpetrated their attacks.

Khiame lauded, notably the level of cooperation with Spanish security services, noting that the two countries have conducted joint operations that foiled dangerous terrorist plots.

The Moroccan official explained that the setbacks endured by IS in Irak and Syria gave way to the surge of the lone wolf threat in Europe as well as in North Africa and the Sahel.

Morocco has adopted a comprehensive counterterrorism strategy that comprises vigilant security measures, regional and international cooperation as well as counter-radicalization policies.

The Morocco Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation (BCIJ) is the primary law enforcement agency responsible for counterterrorism. The BCIJ was established in 2015 as a central institution with the goal of bolstering security governance nationwide within a legal and transparent framework. Reporting to Morocco’s domestic intelligence agency (DGST), the BCIJ operates under the supervision of the public prosecutor of the Court of Appeals.