Bombers in Morocco have killed at least 40 people in the second major terrorist attack to strike an Arab country this week. At least 60 people were injured in the attacks.
17/05/2003 22:43 VOA
Five nearly simultaneous blasts tore through Morocco's coastal city of Casablanca late Friday, damaging a Jewish community center, the Belgian consulate and a Spanish restaurant.
Moroccan officials say most of the victims were Moroccan and that many of the casualties came from the restaurant. Spanish radio says one Spaniard was killed. There have been no claims of responsibility for the attacks. But Morocco's Interior Minister Mustapha Sahel linked the bombings to international terrorism. Mr. Sahel also said 10 suicide bombers were among those killed. Three people have been arrested in connection with the attacks.
The blasts came just a few days after bombings in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, killed 34 people, at three compounds, housing mostly foreigners. Hours before the bombings in Casablanca, U.S. and British intelligence officials warned the al-Qaida terrorist network may soon launch new attacks.
The officials said a wave of electronically intercepted "chatter" (communications) among suspected terrorists points to possible attacks in the Mideast, East Africa and Asia.
Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
17/05/2003 22:43
