Rabat: Elements of a patrol from the territorial center of the Royal Gendarmerie in Ben Mansour (Kenitra Province) were forced to use their service weapons to fire warning shots on Monday evening, during an intervention aimed at neutralizing the danger emanating from a group of individuals who were in a highly agitated state, local authorities indicated.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, these individuals subjected the gendarmes to a serious and dangerous attack by surrounding them, pelting them with stones, and attempting to harm their physical integrity, while also damaging their service vehicle. Nearly 200 residents of the Riyah Lqabliya douar, within the commune of Sidi Mohamed Ben Mansour, obstructed ongoing work at two agricultural farms in the region and set fire to an earthmoving machine, necessitating the intervention of the Royal Gendarmerie to restore order and disperse the gathering.

During this intervention, several protesters put up fierce resistance by throwing stones and starting fires, forcing the elements of the Royal Gendarmerie to use their service weapons by firing warning shots. This action was essential to neutralize the danger and ensure the safety of law enforcement personnel.

This intervention accidentally resulted in injuries to two protesters struck by bullet fragments. They were evacuated to the Azzamouri Provincial Hospital in Kenitra to receive the necessary medical care, and their health condition is deemed stable, the authorities noted.

The incidents also caused damage to a Civil Protection fire truck, as well as injuries to two elements of the Royal Gendarmerie, one of whom was seriously injured. Both gendarmes were transferred to the same hospital facility to receive the required care.

Law enforcement successfully dispersed this protest movement, while a judicial investigation has been opened under the supervision of the competent public prosecutor’s office in order to determine the circumstances of these events, identify all the individuals involved, and establish the legal responsibilities of each person.