 | This article's lead section contains information that is not included elsewhere in the article. (August 2024) |
| 2011 Marrakesh bombing | |
|---|---|
| Part of Insurgency in the Maghreb (2002–present) | |
 Djemaa el Fna on the day after the bombing | |
| Location | Cafe Argana, Jemaa el-Fnaa, Marrakesh, Morocco |
| Coordinates | 31°37′35″N 7°59′20″W / 31.6265°N 7.9889°W |
| Date | 28 April 2011 11:50 a.m. (UTC+1) |
| Target | Foreign tourists in Morocco |
Attack type | Domestic terrorism, bombing, mass murder |
| Weapons | Two remote-detonated TATP pressure cooker nail bombs |
| Deaths | 17 |
| Injured | 25 |
| Perpetrators |  Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (alleged, denied involvement) |
| Assailant | Adil El-Atmani |
| Motive | French intervention in the Middle East |
The 2011 Marrakesh bombing was a domestic terrorist bombing of the Argana Cafe in Jemaa el-Fnaa, Marrakesh, Morocco, on April 28, 2011.[1] A lone terrorist, Adil El-Atmani, planted two homemade pressure cooker bombs hidden inside of a backpack at the cafe and detonated them at 11:50 a.m., killing 17 and injuring 25.[2][3] Many of the dead were tourists, including a group of French students.[4][5]
El-Atmani, a 25 year-old shoe salesman, pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, who denied involvement in the attack.[6][7] He was arrested six days later after a SIM card registered under his name was found in what remained of the bomb.[8] During questioning, he said that he learned bomb-making on the Internet.[9] A letter to the French government found on his laptop ordered the withdrawal of French troops in the Middle East, threatening to "attack targets in the heart of France" if his order was not fulfilled within the twenty days following the attack.[10]
Adil El-Atmani was sentenced to death for the attack by an anti-terrorism court in Salé.[11] He is awaiting execution at Moul El Bergui central prison in Safi.[12] He was put in solitary confinement in 2017 after attempting to kill his cellmate.[12]
- ^ "Alors qu'Al Qaïda menace de venger Ben Laden: Attentat de Marrakech : sur les traces d'éventuelles ramifications". ALBAYANE (in French). May 8, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
- ^ "Marrakesh blast: 'It was a scene of carnage'". BBC News. April 28, 2011.
- ^ Martin, Jay (May 9, 2011). "Pressure on Moroccan government spikes over bombing". CNN. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
- ^ "Morocco investigates deadly Marrakesh blast". France 24. April 29, 2011. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
- ^ "Deadly blast devastates Marrakesh cafe – Africa". Al Jazeera English. April 28, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
- ^ Oberlé, Thierry (May 6, 2011). "L'incroyable histoire du terroriste de Marrakech". Le Figaro (in French). Retrieved November 30, 2022.
- ^ "Attentat de Marrakech : Aqmi nie toute responsabilité". RFI (in French). May 8, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
- ^ "Le principal suspect de l'attentat de Marrakech revient sur ses aveux". RFI (in French). September 23, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
- ^ "الحكم بإعدام عادل العثماني المتهم بتفجير مقهى أركانة في المغرب". Elaph - إيلاف (in Arabic). October 29, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
- ^ ADDAM, Rida. "Attentat de Marrakech : l'ordinateur d'Al Otmani a livré ses secrets : La France et les Français, cibles privilégiées des terroristes". Libération (in French). Retrieved November 30, 2022.
- ^ Miadi, Fadwa (October 30, 2011). "Café Argana - La peine capitale de retour au Maroc". Le Courrier de l’Atlas (in French). Retrieved November 30, 2022.
- ^ a b "عادل العثماني المتورط في تفجير مقهى "أركانة" يحاول قتل سجين داخل زنزانته أثناء نومه". Cawalisse | كواليس اليوم (in Arabic). March 21, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2022.