Court winds up hearing in case of Frenchman-led terrorism suspected group

The Court of Appeal in Rabat wound up Thursday evening hearings in the case of a group of 12 suspected terrorists, led by Frenchman Pierre Robert, alias "Abou Abderrahmane," in connection with the ongoing investigations on last May 16 terrorist attacks in casablanca that left 45 dead.

During this session that lasted 6 hours, the 12 defendants denied all charges, including their alleged belonging to the radical islamic group "Salafiya Jihadiya" and participation in plotting terrorist acts.

The court then confronted Pierre Robert to the other defendants who denied having ever met him except for some of them who said their relationships with the french national were limited to commercial transactions.

The members of the group are facing charges of criminal association, inciting to criminal acts, participation in crimes to harm the state internal security by means of assaults destined to cause destruction and murder, jeopardizing the state security, participation in murders and participation in premeditated aggressions leading to permanent handicaps.