Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and its allies have intensified activities aimed at undermining stability in Morocco, the interior ministry said on Tuesday (December 4th).

"AQIM and its ally MUJAO are now attractive to Moroccan youth imbued with the philosophy of al-Qaeda," MAP quoted the ministry as saying. Investigations by Morocco's judicial police and the Directorate General for Territorial Surveillance (DGST) had "proven" that the terror groups were targeting young Moroccans, the statement said.

The comments followed the recent dismantling of a terror cell that allegedly trained and recruited fighters for the Mali conflict. The suspects seized in Casablanca, Laayoune, Nador, Guercif and Kelaat Sraghna are accused of sending more than 20 young Moroccans to join al-Qaeda and the Movement for Tawhid and Jihad (MUJAO) in northern Mali.