Around the world

RABAT, Morocco — Little would seem to connect a soldier, a shopkeeper, airline pilots’ wives and a woman known for helping people in need. But all have been named as suspects in a purported Islamic terrorist plot, suggesting extremism may be leaping Morocco’s class divides.

In all, Moroccan authorities arrested 56 people last month for allegedly being part of a network that was planning attacks on military and tourist sites in hopes of bringing down the government of this North African monarchy.

Since the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States and suicide bombings two years later that killed 33 people in Casablanca, this country’s economic capital, Moroccans have grown accustomed to police crackdowns on Islamic militants.

Thousands have been detained, drawing frequent accusations of abuse and forced confessions at the hands of police.

What’s new in the latest case is the wide range of people accused. Middle-class women and security force members allegedly formed the core of a group that authorities say called itself Ansar al-Mehdi, or Supporters of the Mehdi — a divine figure in Islamic tradition who will establish justice on Earth before Judgment Day.

Car bombing kills associate of Israeli crime family

JERUSALEM — A bomb blew up under the driver’s seat of a car in a central Israeli city Friday, killing an associate of a crime family and wounding five bystanders.

Police said the blast in Rishon Letzion was the work of a rival crime gang. They said the bomb killed Yossi Afriat, a midlevel debt collector and close associate of the Abarjil crime family. Afriat had a lengthy criminal record, police said.

Rescue officials said a 10-year-old boy and a baby were among the wounded.

The explosion damaged nearby cars and buildings. Police closed the area and bomb experts went to the site, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. Authorities initially feared the blast was a suicide bombing, but realized it was a criminal attack after seeing the bomb’s location within the car.

The explosion occurred two days before the beginning of the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. Israel traditionally tightens security ahead of major Jewish holidays, when Palestinian suicide bombers have often carried out attacks.

<