Morocco: Nine Casablanca bombers tunnel out of prison

"... They had left a letter behind them denouncing the injustice of which they said they were victims and explaining that having resorted in vain to all legal measures, the nine men were left with only one option."

"Injustice." What about the scores of people killed and injured by the bombings?

"Nine Casablanca bombing convicts tunnel out of prison: officials," for Agence France-Presse:

RABAT (AFP) - Nine Islamic extremists convicted over the Casablanca bombings that killed 45 people in 2003, including one facing the death sentence, tunnelled their way out of a Moroccan prison early Monday, officials said.

The Kenitra "prison administration noted the escape Monday morning and all measures have been taken to find the escaped prisoners and establish who was responsible," the justice ministry said in a statement quoted by the MAP state news agency.

The Casablanca bombings were the deadliest ever in Morocco, killing 45 people including 12 suicide bombers, and injuring scores more.

An official representing a group looking after the welfare of jailed Islamic militants said the fugitives had escaped from the Kenitra prison north of Rabat after dawn prayers at 5:30 am (0530 GMT).

Abderrahim Mahtade of the Annasir association said one of the nine had been sentenced to death, six others to life imprisonment and two were given 20 years in jail, and all came from Casablanca.

Mahtade, who is the president of Annasir, earlier said seven of those who escaped were doing life terms. His association works for the wellbeing of several hundred Islamic detainees in the north African kingdom.

The prisoners tunnelled their way out, according to a source in the ministry of the interior, who told AFP that details of the fugitives had been released to help the search, while border guards had been placed on alert.

Mahtade said they had left a letter behind them denouncing the injustice of which they said they were victims and explaining that having resorted in vain to all legal measures, the nine men were left with only one option. [...]

This particular prison doesn't have a stellar track record:

Last December a drug baron called Mohamed Ouazzani, alias Nini, strolled out of Kenitra prison unhindered and the justice ministry was informed only a week later of his disappearance.

In January, eight prison guards were sentenced to sentences ranging from two months to two years for abetting his escape.

Posted by Marisol at April 8, 2008 12:11 AM
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