CASABLANCA — 2003 · Major Tragedy
16 May Casablanca Bombings
On the evening of 16 May 2003, twelve suicide bombers set off their explosives at five sites in Casablanca, Morocco's largest city, at around the same time: the Casa de España restaurant, the Hotel Farah, a Jewish community centre, near the Belgian consulate and around an old Jewish cemetery. Apart from the bombers, 33 people were killed and at least 100 injured, making it the deadliest attack in Morocco's history. Most of the bombers came from the city's poor Sidi Moumen shanty town. Afterwards Morocco passed a tough counter-terrorism law; thousands were investigated and hundreds convicted. The attacks also prompted an urban programme targeting shanty towns.
- Date
- 2003
- Place
- Morocco, Casablanca, MA
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Solved
- Coordinates
- 33.5900, -7.6200 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 16 May 2003Simultaneous suicide bombings struck five sites in Casablanca.
- May 2003A tough counter-terrorism law was passed.
- Later yearsThousands were prosecuted and hundreds convicted.
- 2004A programme targeting shanty towns was launched.
Sources
- The New York Times — Suicide bombs kill at least 14 in Casablanca nytimes.com ↗
- The Guardian — Casablanca bombings theguardian.com ↗
- Los Angeles Times — Casablanca blasts latimes.com ↗
- Wikipedia — 2003 Casablanca bombings en.wikipedia.org ↗
- The New York Times
- The Guardian
- BBC News
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.