AlonZ
17-05-03, 01:22
Several Die in 4 Casablanca Explosions
RABAT, Morocco - Four car bombs exploded in the coastal city of Casablanca Friday, leaving several people dead or wounded, Moroccan security officials said.
A U.S. official said the blasts occurred near a synagogue. "No U.S. government facility was targeted," U.S. State Department spokesman Joanne Moore said in Washington.
Moroccan security officials said there were burnt-out vehicles at the four sites near consulates and restaurants in the center of the city, Morocco's economic center.
It was not immediately clear who was behind the attacks in Morocco.
But U.S. counterterrorism officials in Washington had warned Friday of a coordinated effort by Osama bin Laden (news - web sites)'s al-Qaida network to strike lightly defended targets worlwide, citing the bombings earlier this week in Saudi Arabia as well as threats in Africa and Asia.
U.S. and British authorities had warned of threats in East Africa, particularly Kenya, and in southeast Asia, particularly Malaysia. U.S. officials also received an unconfirmed report that a possible terrorist attack may occur in the western Saudi city of Jiddah.
Al-Qaida has suffered serious blows in recent months, including the capture of alleged Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed. But senior al-Qaida leaders were thought to be hiding in Pakistan, Afghanistan (news - web sites) and Iran, U.S. officials said.
AP
RABAT, Morocco - Four car bombs exploded in the coastal city of Casablanca Friday, leaving several people dead or wounded, Moroccan security officials said.
A U.S. official said the blasts occurred near a synagogue. "No U.S. government facility was targeted," U.S. State Department spokesman Joanne Moore said in Washington.
Moroccan security officials said there were burnt-out vehicles at the four sites near consulates and restaurants in the center of the city, Morocco's economic center.
It was not immediately clear who was behind the attacks in Morocco.
But U.S. counterterrorism officials in Washington had warned Friday of a coordinated effort by Osama bin Laden (news - web sites)'s al-Qaida network to strike lightly defended targets worlwide, citing the bombings earlier this week in Saudi Arabia as well as threats in Africa and Asia.
U.S. and British authorities had warned of threats in East Africa, particularly Kenya, and in southeast Asia, particularly Malaysia. U.S. officials also received an unconfirmed report that a possible terrorist attack may occur in the western Saudi city of Jiddah.
Al-Qaida has suffered serious blows in recent months, including the capture of alleged Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed. But senior al-Qaida leaders were thought to be hiding in Pakistan, Afghanistan (news - web sites) and Iran, U.S. officials said.
AP