Morocco faces the task of rebuilding confidence in its tourism industry after Thursday’s bombing of a busy Marrakech cafe that killed 16 people in an attack described by the government as a terrorist act.
One Briton and eight French nationals were among those who died in the attack on a cafe popular with tourists.
Morocco’s interior ministry has said three Moroccans, two Canadians, a Dutch, a Portuguese and a Swiss national also died.
At least 23 other people were injured in the blast at the Argana cafe overlooking the historic Djemaa el-Fna square in Marrakech.
The attack is the deadliest Morocco has seen since suicide bombers killed 33 people in co-ordinated strikes on Casablanca eight years ago.
There has been no immediate claim of responsibility. But the country’s interior minister Taieb Cherkaoui was quoted as saying: “Preliminary investigation … suggests that this was a terrorist act caused by an explosive device.”
Western security analysts said the bombing carried the hallmarks of Islamist militants, possibly liked to al Qaeda’s north African wing.
Tourism minister Yassir Znagui visited Marrakech’s Ibn Tofail hospital, where many of the victims were being treated. “It’s difficult to talk about the consequences. For the moment, the priority is to be near the victims and their relatives,” he said.
Security was stepped up at Marrakech airport but there was no evidence that holidaymakers were cutting short their holidays.
But many said they would reconsider visiting the country in the future.Tourism is Morocco’s biggest source of foreign currency and the second biggest employer after agriculture.