New explosion rocks Casablanca

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

Last Updated: Saturday, 14 April 2007, 09:57 GMT 10:57 UK

New explosion rocks Casablanca

Two suicide bombers have set off their explosives in the centre
of Casablanca, police in Morocco say.

The police are quoted as saying the bombers killed themselves,
but there were no other casualties.

Saturday's blast comes days after three suicide bombers blew
themselves up and a fourth was shot dead in the city.

The three were wanted in connection with a 11 March bombing
at an internet cafe in Casablanca.


Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6555177.stm

[Eugene]

1. Morocco Attacks Hit Near U.S. Center

Source: Associated Press

Morocco Attacks Hit Near U.S. Center


Saturday April 14, 2007 11:01 AM

By JOHN THORNE

Associated Press Writer

RABAT, Morocco (AP) - Two suicide bombers blew themselves up Saturday
in Casablanca near an American cultural center, just days after three
suicide attacks stoked new fears of terrorism in this North African kingdom,
an official said.

The Interior Ministry official said one woman was injured in the attacks.

No other details were immediately available, said the official, who spoke
on condition anonymity, citing Ministry policy.

In Tuesday's attacks, three suicide bombers blew themselves up, killing
a police officer and injuring 21. Police shot and killed a fourth man who
authorities said appeared to be preparing to detonate explosives.


Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6557257,00.html

[maddezmom]

2. 2 different locations, US Cultural Center and the US Consulate

RABAT, April 14 (Reuters) - Two suicide bombers killed themselves near U.S. diplomatic offices in Morocco's commercial hub Casablanca on Saturday, four days after three similar suicide blasts in the city, police sources and witnesses said.

"Only the two bombers were killed," one of the sources said.

Witnesses said the first blast happened about six metres (yards) from the U.S. cultural centre and the second went off about 60 metres away from the nearby U.S. consulate.

Police cordoned off the area and were hunting for a third man seen running from the scene who was suspected to also be rigged with explosives on a suicide mission, witnesses said.

"Shortly after the blasts a man ran away and police are chasing him," one of the witnesses said.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L14471151.htm

[Joanne98]

9. The US has a cultural center? Britney sitting in an SUV eating a Big Mac?

Or Mickey Mouse holding a bomb in one hand and money in the other. You could make a lot of jokes about this..

[youngdem]

3. Round up the Usual Suspects.

[Gman]

11. Beat me to it!

[maddezmom]

4. Morocco police arrest bombers' leaders-official

Morocco police arrest bombers' leaders-official
14 Apr 2007 13:19:44 GMT
Source: Reuters
Alert Me | Printable view | Email this article | RSS <-> Text <+>

CASABLANCA, Morocco, April 14 (Reuters) - Moroccan police arrested on Saturday the leaders of a gang of suicide bombers who have set off a series of blasts in Casablanca that included attacks on U.S. diplomatic offices, a security official said.

The senior official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the two arrested men -- the head and deputy head of the gang -- had given investigators the names of the group's members and their plans for future attacks.

more;http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L14716687.htm

[Eugene]

7. (3) Suspects Arrested in Morocco Bombings

Source: Associated Press

Suspects Arrested in Morocco Bombings


Saturday April 14, 2007 8:01 PM

AP Photo CAS101, CAS102, XCAS120

By JOHN THORNE

Associated Press Writer

CASABLANCA, Morocco (AP) - Two brothers strapped with explosives
blew themselves up near an American cultural center Saturday, and
police arrested another three suspects - including one wearing an
explosives belt - hours later, an official said.

-snip-

Saturday's two bombers detonated their explosives in the middle of a
boulevard that runs behind the American Language Center, killing
themselves and wounding a woman, the official said, adding that the
three suspects were arrested in the neighborhood, which is dotted
with high-rises, hotels and diplomatic missions, including the U.S.
consulate.

After the arrests, another explosives belt was found beside an
upscale hotel in the same neighborhood struck by the bombings,
the Interior Ministry official said on condition of anonymity,
citing ministry policy.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6557855,00.html

[Joanne98]

5. Two bombers attack U.S. targets in Morocco

Source: reuters

CASABLANCA, Morocco (Reuters) - Two suicide bombers killed themselves in an attack on U.S. diplomatic offices in Morocco's commercial hub Casablanca on Saturday, a police source said.

Police arrested a third bomber as he tried to flee the scene of the mid-morning attack on the U.S. cultural centre and the nearby U.S. consulate in an upscale district of the port city, where three suicide bombers blew themselves up four days ago.

"He threw down his explosives belt and ran away. Police chased him and caught him," said the owner of a coffee shop in the neighborhood who declined to be identified.

A senior police source said the bombers clearly intended to attack the U.S. buildings, indicating they were the first targeted suicide bombings of a recent series in the city.




Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSKUA44709820070414

[TwilightGardener]

6. Morocco? Didn't these guys get the memo that they are supposed to be in Iraq?

[pampango]

8. Sounds like Casablanca needs a "surge" too. n/t

[truthisfreedom]

10. Well, that obviously didn't turn out the way they intended. I don't think they garnered any sympathy

for their cause by simply blowing up.

[ohio2007]

12. Morocco slum 'bred suicide bomber'

What kind of village raised these idiots ?



<snip>
"My son is innocent. He is innocent," she said. "Shame on them for taking him away from us. He never left my side. And he is very young."

She told Al Jazeera that she was concerned for her seventeen year old son who had been taken away by the police.
<snip>

Al-Raidi told Al Jazeera she was concerned for her
son, who had been taken into police custody>

[maddezmom]

13. U.S. Consulate Closes in Morocco Over Security Concerns

U.S. Consulate Closes in Morocco Over Security Concerns

By IAN FISHER
Published: April 16, 2007

CASABLANCA, Morocco, April 15 — The United States Consulate here said Sunday that it would close until further notice, a day after two brothers carried out puzzling suicide attacks near the consulate amid a spate of bombings in Morocco and Algeria.

With the Moroccan police tightening security around the consulate and other foreign consulates here, the closing underscored American concerns expressed here and in Algeria about further attacks and possible dangers to Americans.

On Saturday, United States officials here told their employees to stay home, warning that the potential for violence against Americans “remains high.”

A similarly strong warning in Algeria prompted an official government protest that American officials were exaggerating the threat and stirring undue fear.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/16/world/africa/16morocco.html?ref=washington