End of hearing of group allegedly involved in May 16 attacks

The appeal court of Casablanca ended Friday the hearing of 19 people belonging to Hassan Taoussi group that is allegedly involved in May 16 terrorist attacks.

Fifteen members of the group denied charges held against them and condemned the suicide bombings perpetrated last May in Casablanca. They also denied being member of any movement or organization called "Salafia Jihadia," stressing that their relation with other individuals sued part of the same case is limited to neighborhood and meetings in prayer places.

Hicham Alami, a shoe merchant, was the only defendant to admit he met Abdelhak, alias Moul Sebbat (the shoe-maker), one of the instigators for last May attacks. Hicham, nonetheless, insisted that their was a mere trade relation between them.

"I dealt with him (Moul Sebbat) only twice part of my work," he argued.

None of the defendants admitted taking oath of fidelity to Moul Sebbat. Some of them noted, however, that they attended theological lessons given by Mohammed Fizazi and Abou Houdaifa, who are thought to be the theoreticians of the Salafia Jihadia, with the presence of some sixty people.

The accused rejected charges that they trained in Oued El Maleh (north of Casablanca) and denied a previous knowledge of May 16 suicide bombings and preparation for terrorist acts in Marrakech and Essaouira similarly to those of Casablanca.