Terrorism: Briton among 5 extremists sentenced to 20 years in Morocco

Five people, including a Briton of Moroccan origin and two Arabs, were sentenced in absentia to 20 years imprisonment by a Moroccan court, in Rabat Friday, under the new anti-terrorism law enacted last May after the terror bombings that hit (May 16) the Moroccan economic capital, Casablanca, killing 43 people including the 12 suicide bombers.

An inquiry notice was filed against the five individuals on charges of "constitution of a criminal gang in order to prepare and commit terrorist acts, collection of funds to finance terrorist operations and forgery."

The court of appeal of Rabat applied the in absentia procedure in accordance with the penal code.

On the other hand, the court sentenced Mohamed Fennane, also prosecuted under the anti-terrorism law, to two years in prison on charges of "conspiracy to prepare and commit terrorist acts and raising funds to perpetrate acts banned by law."

The defendant denied during the trial being member of the underground extremist group "Salafia Jihadia." Several members of the group were sentenced to various prison sentences since the beginning of the train of trials in connection with terrorism subsequent to May 16 terrorist attacks.