7 Arrested Over Islamic State Ties in Morocco

Seven people were arrested on Friday in Morocco over suspected ties to the Islamic State.

The seven included the leader of the group who has been recruiting fighters.

According to authorities, the group is among a number of others that have been found plotting attacks inside and outside the country.

The group, which has been active in the town of Dar Bouazza near Casablanca, had been in contact with IS in Iraq and Syria.

“Investigations showed that the leader of the group had solid contacts with commanders of IS on the ground in Iraq and Syria,” a statement said.

A number of bomb attacks have been executed by suspected Islamist fighters in Morocco with the most recent being in Marrakesh in 2011.

Morocco’s government believes that there are about 2,000 nationals who have joined armed groups in Syria and Iraq. It is estimated that 220 of them are back in Moroccan jails while 286 have been killed.

Morocco has been fighting against Islamic militancy alongside Western nations .

The North African kingdom has been on high alert since 2014 when IS took control over large areas in nothern Iraq and Syria.