The jail sentences were distributed as follows: 30 years for Abdelkrim Ait Oukardh, 20 years for Abdelaziz Rakech, 15 years for Abdessamad Chardoudi and 13 years for Abderrahim Boudhrif. They were found guilty of setting up a criminal gang to prepare and carry out acts of terrorism as part of a collective project aimed at seriously endangering public order through intimidation, terrorization and violence. They were found guilty also of making explosives, theft, failure to inform the police about a crime, membership of the so-called Salafia Jihadia and holding public meetings without getting prior authorization.

The same court sentenced four other defendants to 10 years in jail each, three to eight years, three others to six years and one defendant got five years. They were all found guilty as charged.

The court also handed down jail sentences ranging from two to four years each against 31 defendants and a two-year suspended sentence against a woman. As for Youssef Elhimer, he was prosecuted while on bail and was given a 5,000 dirham fine.

[Passage omitted: repetitive]

This case dates back to 11 March 2007 when Abdelfattah Erraidhi blew himself up inside an Internet café in Sidi Moumen district, Casablanca, when the son of the café owner prevented him from entering the premises to open sites that incite acts of terrorism. His companion, Youssef Khoudri, a minor, was injured and ran away but he was later caught by the police. The second suicide bomber, Ayoub Erraidhi, blew himself up on 10 April 2007 in Al-Farah district, Casablanca, by means of an explosive belt.

The Abdelfattah Erraidhi group consisted of 54 defendants, including three minors. They wanted to attack Casablanca port, a barracks for the paramilitary forces in Bornazil district, in Casablanca and police stations in the same town. The group was also making preparations to attack public forces.

Source: Assabah website, Casablanca, in Arabic 18 Oct 08

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