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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Dozens jailed over Morocco blast | Dozens jailed over Morocco blast |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| A Moroccan court has sentenced more than 40 people to up to 30 years in prison over a suicide bombing last year at an internet cafe in Casablanca. | |
| The bomber died in the attack, and three people were wounded. | |
| The state news agency MAP said that those accused had been planning a string of attacks in Casablanca using home-made explosives. | The state news agency MAP said that those accused had been planning a string of attacks in Casablanca using home-made explosives. |
| The plot was uncovered by the investigation following the internet cafe bombing, authorities said. | The plot was uncovered by the investigation following the internet cafe bombing, authorities said. |
| The sentences came one day after another major terrorism trial got under way, involving the alleged leader of an extremist cell accused of links to al-Qaeda and planning to murder prominent figures within Morocco. | The sentences came one day after another major terrorism trial got under way, involving the alleged leader of an extremist cell accused of links to al-Qaeda and planning to murder prominent figures within Morocco. |
| The BBC's James Copnall in Rabat says the Moroccan authorities regularly break up what they call terrorist groups, and there are currently nearly 1,000 Islamic radicals in Moroccan jails. | The BBC's James Copnall in Rabat says the Moroccan authorities regularly break up what they call terrorist groups, and there are currently nearly 1,000 Islamic radicals in Moroccan jails. |
| Human rights campaigners say that alleged extremists are often convicted on flimsy evidence - a charge the state strongly denies. | Human rights campaigners say that alleged extremists are often convicted on flimsy evidence - a charge the state strongly denies. |
| Slum area | Slum area |
| The defendants sentenced on Friday all denied charges that included forming a criminal gang with the aim of committing terrorist acts, making explosives, theft, forgery and failure to denounce terrorism. | The defendants sentenced on Friday all denied charges that included forming a criminal gang with the aim of committing terrorist acts, making explosives, theft, forgery and failure to denounce terrorism. |
| One man was given a 30-year sentence, and 44 others received jail terms of between two and 15 years. | One man was given a 30-year sentence, and 44 others received jail terms of between two and 15 years. |
| One person received a suspended sentence. Four others were acquitted. | One person received a suspended sentence. Four others were acquitted. |
| "The members of this organisation being formed had planned attacks on the port of Casablanca, an auxiliary forces barracks in Bournazel [Casablanca] and police stations," MAP reported. | "The members of this organisation being formed had planned attacks on the port of Casablanca, an auxiliary forces barracks in Bournazel [Casablanca] and police stations," MAP reported. |
| No details were given about the defendants' individual roles. | No details were given about the defendants' individual roles. |
| The alleged leader of the plot, Abdelfettah Raydi, detonated an explosive belt in a Casablanca internet cafe to avoid arrest in March 2007, killing only himself. | The alleged leader of the plot, Abdelfettah Raydi, detonated an explosive belt in a Casablanca internet cafe to avoid arrest in March 2007, killing only himself. |
| The cafe's manager said he had tried to stop him viewing jihadist websites. | The cafe's manager said he had tried to stop him viewing jihadist websites. |
| A month later three men, including Abdelfettah Raydi's brother, blew themselves up during a police raid, also killing a police officer, and two more men died in a similar incident days after that. | A month later three men, including Abdelfettah Raydi's brother, blew themselves up during a police raid, also killing a police officer, and two more men died in a similar incident days after that. |
| The March 2007 blast occurred in a slum area of the city that was home to 13 suicide bombers who carried out a series of co-ordinated suicide bombings in 2003 which left 33 people dead. | The March 2007 blast occurred in a slum area of the city that was home to 13 suicide bombers who carried out a series of co-ordinated suicide bombings in 2003 which left 33 people dead. |