Morocco terror attack warning issued

Morocco has reportedly been warned to step up security at Western embassies and tourism sites because of a heightened threat of terrorist attacks.

A Moroccan newspaper, usually well-informed in domestic security matters, reported that the European Union had warned the North African country of the "almost certain probability" of terrorist attacks.

It said the European Commission's security department sent a report to Rabat alerting it to the threat.

"The European Union's report mentioned the almost certain probability of terrorist strikes against Morocco and named the sites to be targeted by terrorists," the newspaper said.

"It urged Morocco to step up surveillance in the light of the significance of the information details."

The newspaper also reported that "France confirmed preparations by terrorists to carry out attacks in Algeria and Morocco have reached an advanced stage".

The subject was also at the heart of discussions between Israeli and Moroccan foreign ministers and top intelligence chiefs in Paris last week, the newspaper reported.

It said Morocco had received Israeli intelligence information on the movement of jihadists and their attempts to infiltrate Morocco from Algeria and Mauritania.

The paper added: "The (EU and Israeli) reports also mentioned that 11 al-Qaeda members may have sneaked into Morocco and some of them may have been identified."

On Friday, Morocco raised the security alert level to the highest rating of "maximum", suggesting imminent terror strike.

Morocco's Interior Ministry said it had obtained intelligence information on the threat in recent days but gave no details.

The region has been on alert since al-Qaeda's affiliate in North Africa, Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb which is based in Algeria, threatened to step up its holy war against "corrupt" governments in the region and their Western Allies.

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