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Rabat– Authorities in Agadir have opened a judicial investigation, under the supervision of the public prosecutor, following an attack on a Royal Gendarmerie post in Lqliaa, Inzegan-Ait Melloul. In reported self defense, Gendarmerie shot three who have since died. Several others were injured in the chaos.
Abderrazak Fattah, Public Prosecutor at the Agadir Court of Appeal, briefed national media on Thursday, detailing the incident involving a large group of rioters who targeted the gendarmerie post. The investigation is intended to clarify the circumstances of the attack and identify those responsible, with legal proceedings to follow based on the findings.
“The public prosecutor’s office is committed both to ensuring citizens’ rights and freedoms within the law and to firmly addressing any violations that threaten public safety,” Fattah said.
According to the prosecutor, the unrest began when a crowd, including minors armed with knives, sticks, and stones, gathered in Lqliaa. The demonstrators caused significant property damage, including vandalism of private vehicles, a public transport bus, and shop fronts, and blocked roads using garbage containers. The crowd, which numbered over 200 people, then advanced toward the gendarmerie post.
Footage presented during the press briefing showed the severity of the attacks, including arson targeting the deputy commander’s office and the main entrance. Fire extinguishers were used by gendarmerie personnel, but protesters reignited the flames, resulting in substantial damage to equipment, including surveillance cameras and the main gate.
Gendarmerie officers attempted to disperse the crowd using tear gas, but the protesters intensified their assault, forcibly removing the garage door, seizing a government 4×4 vehicle, and taking five motorbikes from the facility, which they set on fire in the street. The attack left eight gendarmerie officers injured, three seriously.
Facing an imminent threat to both personnel and the facility, officers fired warning shots according to legal protocols. The crowd remained aggressive, reportedly targeting the residences of gendarmerie families and damaging two additional civilian vehicles belonging to the gendarmerie.
After attempts by the group to seize weapons and ammunition from the post, gendarmerie personnel were compelled to use their service weapons in self-defense to protect public order and safeguard both lives and property.
The prosecutor concluded that the violent confrontation directly resulted in three fatalities and multiple injuries, shedding light on the serious and organized nature of the attack. Authorities have pledged to pursue legal accountability for all involved.
The demonstrations, led by Generation Z, call on the government to address social, health, and employment challenges. While they began peacefully, some protests have been overtaken by rioters, escalating into violent clashes that caused damage to public and private property, including security vehicles, shops, government offices, and banks.
Starting last weekend, the protests reflect widespread frustration among Morocco’s youth over limited access to quality education and healthcare, as well as ongoing economic hardships.
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