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New explosion rocks Casablanca New suicide attacks hit Morocco
(about 5 hours later)
Two suicide bombers have set off their explosives in the centre of Casablanca, reportedly killing themselves and injuring a woman passer-by. Two suicide bombers have blown themselves up in the Moroccan city of Casablanca, officials say.
Saturday's blast comes days after three suicide bombers blew themselves up and a fourth was shot dead in the city. One woman passer-by was injured in the blasts, which happened near the US consulate and its cultural centre.
The three were wanted in connection with a 11 March bombing at an internet cafe in Casablanca. The incident came four days after three people blew themselves up and a fourth was shot dead during a police raid on suspected militants in the city.
Moroccan news agency MAP is reporting that the gang-leader of the cafe bombing was arrested on Saturday. The men were wanted in connection with a 11 March bombing at an internet cafe in Casablanca.
The agency said the investigation into the ring-leader - who has not been identified - has also led to the arrest of his right-hand man and the discovery of hideouts where terrorists were making explosives. Hours after the two men blew themselves up, police arrested the leader and deputy leader of a group behind the 11 March attack and the ones earlier this week, security sources and local media said.
The rest of the gang are actively being sought, it says. They did not identify the men arrested.
Fears of violence Regional fears
Three people have also been arrested following Saturday's suicide bombings in the city. News agency Associated Press reported that one of the suspects was wearing an explosive belt, but this has not been confirmed. The two bombers - identified by police as brothers - blew themselves up in Boulevard Moulay Youssef in the city's central district.
Saturday's explosion happened in Boulevard Moulay Youssef. A US cultural centre and US consulate are on the same street. One of the two bombers asked a policeman for access to the American cultural centre and when questioned further the pair blew themselves up, security officials told the French news agency AFP.
An AFP report quoting security officials said one of the two bombers asked a policeman for access to the cultural centre when questioned further the pair blew themselves up. "I saw a man talking to a policeman, trying to distract him I guess, while another man walked by to the consulate and blew himself up over there," a passer-by said.
It is the second time this week that suicide attackers have exploded devices in Casablanca. Police arrested three people after the bombings and found another explosives belt, officials and police said.
On Tuesday, three militants blew themselves up when they were confronted by Moroccan police. A fourth suspected militant, and one policemen, were shot dead in clashes. An interior ministry official told the Associated Press news agency that the belt linked the brothers with the men who blew themselves up on Tuesday - as they were confronted by Moroccan police in a Casablanca suburb. A fourth suspected militant was shot and one policemen was killed in one of the blasts.
The BBC's Richard Hamilton in Rabat, said Moroccan police have been searching for members of an alleged terrorist cell that was planning what they say was a massive bombing campaign against tourist resorts and foreign-owned ships. The BBC's Richard Hamilton in Rabat said Moroccan police have been searching for members of an alleged terrorist cell that was planning what they say was a massive bombing campaign against tourist resorts and foreign-owned ships.
It follows last month's bombing in Casablanca, when the alleged ringleader of the group killed himself in an internet cafe in the city, says our correspondent. It follows last month's bombing when the alleged ringleader of the group killed himself in an internet cafe in the city, our correspondent says.
BBC Arab affairs analyst Magdi Abdelhadi says the recent foiled suicide attempts in Morocco, coupled with recent explosions in neighbouring Algiers have raised fears of a new surge of radical Islamist violence in North Africa.BBC Arab affairs analyst Magdi Abdelhadi says the recent foiled suicide attempts in Morocco, coupled with recent explosions in neighbouring Algiers have raised fears of a new surge of radical Islamist violence in North Africa.
The Moroccan authorities last week played down the possibility of a link between the latest incidents in Casablanca and the blasts in Algiers.The Moroccan authorities last week played down the possibility of a link between the latest incidents in Casablanca and the blasts in Algiers.