Morocco: Police officer fatally stabbed by mentally ill man
An on-duty police officer was tragically stabbed and killed by a mentally ill 63-year-old man on August 21st, for no apparent reason.
According to TelQuel, the suspect was a homeless man experiencing a psychologically induced frenzy at the time. He apparently had a history of psychiatric problems, and unfortunately on this occasion, it led to the death of the traffic police officer.
The attack reportedly came by surprise, the source claims the victim was conducting his traffic control duties on a crossroads when the assailant physically assaulted him with a bladed weapon. The victim passed away on the journey to the hospital.
As for the suspect, he was purportedly arrested on the spot by police officers, where they immediately intervened in the situation and seized the knife.
The judicial police services have opened an investigation into the incident, supposedly under the supervision of the public prosecutor’s office. They aim uncover all elements that led to the shocking event.
The Director General of National Security has reportedly decided to promote the victim to rank of officer in honour of losing his life in the line of duty. He also instructed the Mohammed VI Foundation for Social Works of National Security Personnel (FMSN), along with the services of DGSN, to organise the officer’s funeral and support his family financially.
As devastating this situation is for the victim and his family, it also points to a broader issue within Moroccan society. A mentally ill individual, who had been admitted to psychiatric institutions multiple times, most recently in December 2024, was left homeless with seemingly no support system.
As Maghrebi reported, the lack of support for the vulnerable appears to be common in Morocco. Hundreds of migrants are dumped in already underfunded regions, left to fend for themselves, and facing hostility from locals who also struggle with a lack of government assistance.
Without reforms to necessary state sectors, dreadful occurrences such as the death of the traffic police officer, may well persist.
Telquel, Maghrebi.org
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