Marrakesh blast suicide bombing, reports

An explosion in a cafe in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh Thursday, which killed 14 people, could have been the work of a suicide bomber, a local official said. The Argana café is on the city’s Jemaa el-Fna Square, a major tourist attraction, and 11 foreigners were among the dead.

Reuters/Youssef Boudlal

Early reports indicated that the explosion was accidental but the state media later said that it was a criminal act.

"We cannot at this stage determine the exact identity of all the victims," a medical source tolf the AFP news agency. "Five women are among the 11 dead foreigners.3

Earlier another official said that, in addition to the 14 fatalities, 20 people were injured in the blast which he described as "criminal" in nature.

The French embassy said Thursday afternoon that it did not know whether French nationals were among the casualties but added that it was in touch with
Moroccan authorities to find out. Morocco is a major destination for French tourists.