Author: Nicolas Marmie in Rabat
Publication: The Independent, UK
Date: June 4, 2003
URL: http://news.independent.co.uk/world/africa/story.jsp?story=412277
Moroccan police arrested a French
citizen yesterday wanted in connection with last month's suicide bombings.
Robert Antoine-Pierre, 28, is the
first foreign suspect implicated in the attacks that killed 43 people.
He was taken into custody in the northern city of Tangiers, where he had
been living with his Moroccan wife, security officials said.
Police launched a manhunt for him
after several other suspects in the Casablanca bombings claimed he gave
the orders for the five coordinated attacks on 16 May that targeted Jewish
and Spanish sites in Morocco's largest city, as well as a major hotel.
Twelve suicide bombers - all Moroccans
- died in the attacks. Dozens of Moroccans have since been detained.
Security officials say an international
terrorism ring was behind the attacks and investigators have been examining
Moroccan links to al-Qa'ida.
Mr Antoine-Pierre, also known as
"Lhaj" and as "Abou Abderrahmane" was identified as armed and dangerous
in a notice handed out at border crossings and police stations throughout
Morocco. He converted to Islam and had been living in Tangiers since 1996.
He and his wife have two children, the officials said.
Mr Antoine-Pierre, originally from
near Lyon in central France, was known to French intelligence officials
for his involvement in radical Islam, authorities said.
Officials believe he made frequent
trips to Afghanistan, Germany, Spain and Turkey. They also believe Mr Antoine-Pierre
was in contact with Abdelwaheb Rafiki, also known as Abou Hafs, a Moroccan
Islamic cleric known for his anti- Western views. The cleric has been in
jail for months on charges of "inciting violence."
He is believed to be one of the
leaders of a homegrown Muslim extremist group, Salafia Jihadia, which is
suspected of ties to al-Qaida.
