(VOVworld) – On Tuesday, Moroccan security authorities arrested seven persons with suspected ties to the Islamic State group who were allegedly planning to travel to Libya to join the local IS branch. 

A newly formed bureau to fight terrorism has been dubbed the Moroccan "FBI" (Photo: alaraby.co.uk)

According to the Moroccan Ministry of the Interior, the seven were active militants in cities in South Morocco. They allegedly planned to join IS in Syria or Iraq but then changed their destination to Libya. They were attempting to cross the Morocco-Mauritania border with the help of a smuggling and organized crime network. They are believed to have been intending to purchase weapons and carry out terrorist attacks.