Morocco arrests three attack suspects

11.30am

Morocco said it had arrested three suspects in connection with last week's suicide attacks in Casablanca and published the names of four more wanted men.

Moroccan authorities say a small Islamic group, Assirat al Moustaquim (The Righteous Path), was behind the five almost simultaneous bombings on May 16, which killed 43 people, including several Westerners.

The official MAP news agency quoted a senior interior ministry official as saying the three men in custody had been on a list of nine suspects announced on Wednesday. It did not say when police has arrested them.

MAP also said the government had announced the names of four more suspects and posted the pictures of the youthful looking men on its website.

"The Moroccan authorities ask any person who has information on or knows the place of residence or hiding of the wanted persons to advise immediately the local authorities or the nearest security services," said a statement on the MAP website.

Morocco, a staunch US ally, says the young suicide bombers who carried out the attacks were linked to "international terrorism" and has arrested dozens of suspects.

The bombings came four days after suicide attacks killed more than 30 people in Saudi Arabia.

- REUTERS