Dismantling of ISIS-Affiliated Cell in Tangier: Expertise Carried out on Seized Products Reveals Preparation of Explosive Devices – BCIJ –

The technical and forensic expertise carried out on all the material and products seized, following the foiling of an imminent terrorist plan and the dismantling of an extremist ISIS-affiliated cell operating in the city of Tangier, have revealed that the combination was used for the preparation and manufacture of explosive devices, said Sunday evening, the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) under the Directorate General of Territorial Surveillance (DGST). As part of the investigation conducted by the BCIJ following the foiling on October 06 of an imminent terrorist plan and the dismantling of an extremist ISIS-affiliated cell operating in the city of Tangier, the national laboratory of the forensic science and technical police at the Institute of Forensic Sciences of the National Police has conducted a technical and forensic expertise to analyze and examine the nature and uses of chemical products and samples seized in this case, the same source noted in a statement. The technical and forensic expertise conducted on all the material and products seized have revealed that the combination was used for the preparation and manufacture of explosive devices, including two boxes of sulfur considered a reducing and flammable product and four bottles of hydrochloric acid with high acidity, used as a chemical catalyst in the manufacture of certain explosives, in addition to a can of three liters of concentrated bleach containing sodium hypochlorite, the statement added. The technical expertise carried out also examined the uses of a set of metal and electrical products seized from one of the members of this terrorist cell, including two kilograms of nails of more than 3cm in length, which can be used as projectiles when placed inside the explosive devices as well as electrical wiring consisting of copper and lamps connected to switches and small batteries, part of the device used to trigger the detonation, in addition to a high voltage halogen bulb, used as a spark causing the explosion when its protective glass is broken and exposed to high voltage, according to the BCIJ. The results of the forensic and technical expertise have been included in a detailed report of expertise available to the BCIJ to be supported by the procedures of the judicial investigation conducted under the supervision of the competent prosecutor’s office, in charge of terrorism cases, concluded the same source.