A family mourns the death of a relative in the deadly blasts

CASABLANCA, Morocco, May 18 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – The Moroccan police here arrested Sunday, May 18, a number of Casablanca blasts suspects as the interior minister, Mostapha Sahel, said that a group of 14 people divided into five teams triggered the five explosions that killed 41 people late Friday, May 16.

At least 30 people were arrested in a major security operation across the city, the BBC News Online reported, while Sahel said there were similarities between the bombings in Casablanca and Riyadh.

There are indications that the Casablanca blasts were probably the work of a "North African cell linked to al-Qaeda," the BBC correspondent said.

He further added that the Moroccan Salafiyah Jihadiyah was suspected of having links to Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

Sahel said Saturday, May 17, the attacks bore "the hallmark of international terrorism."

An audiotape purported to be recorded by al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden made public in February 2003 urged Muslims around the world to wage holy war against the United States and Muslim states such as Saudi Arabia and Morocco that are seen as pro-Western, Agence France-Presse (AFP) said.

The alleged tape named Morocco on a list of "apostate" Arab nations, AFP added.

The Moroccan King Mohammed VI has arrived in the city and is expected to tour the scenes of devastation and meet victims on Sunday, BBC added. 

Casablanca blasts targeted included a Jewish community centre, a busy Spanish restaurant and social club, a five-star international hotel and the Belgian consulate.

The bombings drew widespread international condemnation with U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz blamed the bombings on "terrorists" who he said wanted to block progress in the Arab world, while Russia said the attacks bore the "signature" of al-Qaeda.

The explosions came amid worldwide terror alerts and just four days after a co-ordinated series of bombings in the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, killed 34 people.

Assistance

Meanwhile, U.S. President George W. Bush on Saturday offered Morocco help in tracking down the terrorists behind the attack that have laid bare a resurgent threat of international terrorism, AFP reported.

"Morocco is a close friend of the United States and we offer assistance to the government of Morocco to help track down and bring to justice those responsible," Bush said in a statement.

Bush said he "strongly" condemned the terrorist bombings, and extended his condolences to the families of the victims.

"These acts of murder show, once again, that terrorism respects no boundaries nor borders," Bush said.

"Casablanca is a city well-known for its tolerance and its diverse range of religious and ethnic communities," the president noted. "These acts demonstrate that the war against terror goes on."

Bush, however, offered no security specifics, but other U.S. government officials said sending a team of FBI experts to Casablanca was one of the options available at this early stage.

"Obviously, we would offer any assistance that we could to Morocco," FBI spokesman Bill Carter told AFP.

"It would be up to Morocco to decide that assistance is needed."

Carter said it was too early to determine whether al-Qaeda or any other high-profile terrorist organization was behind the attacks, adding that the FBI would need access to the crime scene and evidence in the hands of Moroccan authorities to draw such a conclusion.

The offer of U.S. investigative and law enforcement assistance was conveyed to Morocco by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who conferred with Foreign Minister Mohamed Benaissa by telephone earlier in the day.

Morocco has been exchanging intelligence on terror suspects with the United States and actively pursuing individuals believed to be associated with al-Qaeda, according to U.S. officials.

U.S. Navy ships make regular port calls in Morocco, while U.S. warplanes en route to Turkey and the Gulf region frequently refuel in the northwest African nation.

Morocco also takes part in joint military exercises with the United States and is home to a 225-million-dollar Voice of America transmitter that beams U.S. propaganda to Africa and the Middle East.