RABAT, Feb. 29 (Xinhua) -- A 24-year-old man was arrested near the Moroccan capital Rabat on Thursday over alleged links with the terror group Islamic State (IS), the official news agency MAP reported.
The suspect was arrested in the town of Sale for "alleged involvement in the preparation of a terrorist project aimed at undermining public order," said the report.
The Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ), Morocco's primary law enforcement agency responsible for fighting terrorism, said in a statement that preliminary investigations showed the suspect had pledged allegiance to IS and expressed interest in acquiring expertise in explosives manufacturing.
The suspect established contacts with IS intermediaries, aiming to join one of the organization's branches in the Sahel-Saharan region, a hotspot for terrorist organizations, the statement said.
The suspect was placed in police custody for further judicial investigation by the BCIJ, it added. ■