Moments of tranquility and reverence inside the Mosque of Tranquility in the Labita neighborhood of Kénitra turned into a scene of horror and panic when a person stormed the mosque and subjected its imam to brutal assault using a bladed weapon while performing the Maghrib prayer last Thursday.
Local reports revealed that, after being arrested, the accused made strange allegations against the victim, claiming that the imam practiced “sorcery” on him, in a desperate attempt to justify his criminal behavior and portray himself as a victim.
A Precise Security Operation Ends with the Arrest of the Perpetrator
Police elements in the Beni Mellal Security Department, in close coordination with their counterparts in Kénitra and based on precise information provided by the General Directorate of National Territory Surveillance (DGST), identified the suspect and his whereabouts in the rural area of “Afourar” on the outskirts of Beni Mellal.
In the early hours of Saturday, June 20, the security forces conducted a successful arrest operation in coordination with Royal Gendarmerie elements, where the perpetrator was arrested without significant resistance.
The suspect was immediately transferred to undergo judicial investigation under the supervision of the competent public prosecution, to reveal all the circumstances and true background behind this criminal assault that resulted in serious injuries to the imam (wounds to the ear, face, and elbow) and injured another person during an escape attempt.
Ongoing Investigations and Widespread Condemnation
Security and judicial investigations are ongoing at a rapid pace to determine the true motives behind this heinous crime, which sparked a wave of outrage and shock among worshippers and residents of the Labita neighborhood and Kénitra in general, along with a group of religious leaders who warned of the increasing cases of assaults targeting the nation.
