Terror hits Morocco

A total of 39 people were killed and scores wounded in suicide bombings in Morocco8217;s biggest city Casablanca hours after the United Sta...

A total of 39 people were killed and scores wounded in suicide bombings in Morocco8217;s biggest city Casablanca hours after the United States said Al Qaeda was poised to strike again, authorities said on Saturday.

A Jewish centre and a Spanish club were among the targets of Friday night8217;s second major attack on an Arab state with close ties to the US, following multiple suicide bombings in Saudi Arabia. 8216;8216;International terrorism struck Casablanca tonight,8217;8217; Moroccan Interior Minister Al Mustapha Sahel was quoted as saying by 2M Television. Suicide bombers carried out five attacks and as many as 10 of the dead may have been assailants, he was quoted as saying by the official MAP news agency.

Sahel told reporters 39 people were killed and 65 wounded 8212; 17 of them seriously. Diplomatic sources had said earlier at least 40 people were killed and 100 wounded.

The blasts came hours after US President George W. Bush warned of 8216;8216;killers on the loose8217;8217; as terror alerts spread around the world after the bombings in the Saudi capital Riyadh, which killed 34 people including eight Americans.

Sahel said the bombers had struck at the Hotel Safir in the heart of the old city, a Jewish community centre, a Jewish-owned Italian restaurant and the Casa de Espana restaurant and social club. A bomb seemingly destined for an old Jewish cemetery appeared to have gone off early.

The minister said three Moroccans had been arrested 8212; among them one suspected of attempting a suicide bombing and wounded. The high degree of coordination in the attacks smacked of an Al Qaeda hallmark, Sahel said.

The US and Britain had issued warnings of attacks in Kenya and other African countries but not Morocco, showing how Western intelligence has been completely caught off-guard. 8216;8216;It is a wake-up call to many that the war on terror continues,8217;8217; Bush told reporters.

Story continues below this ad

Eyewitnesses said the attackers cut the hotel doorman8217;s head off with a big knife as they entered it. Witnesses said at least one attacker blew himself up with grenades strapped to his belt. Reuters