• Protesters in Rabat, Morocco, shout slogans during a youth-led demonstration calling for reforms in the public health and education sectors. AFP
    Protesters in Rabat, Morocco, shout slogans during a youth-led demonstration calling for reforms in the public health and education sectors. AFP
  • A boy stands next to a torched police vehicle as the protests turn violent. AP
    A boy stands next to a torched police vehicle as the protests turn violent. AP
  • Members of the security forces detain a protester. AFP
    Members of the security forces detain a protester. AFP
  • Security forces disperse the gathering. EPA
    Security forces disperse the gathering. EPA
  • Members of the security forces detain a protester. AFP
    Members of the security forces detain a protester. AFP
  • Policemen guard a street in Sale. Two people were killed when officers opened fire on a group of people attempting to storm a police station. AFP
    Policemen guard a street in Sale. Two people were killed when officers opened fire on a group of people attempting to storm a police station. AFP
  • A person runs past a torched police vehicle. AP
    A person runs past a torched police vehicle. AP
  • A man stands next to a bank destroyed by the protests. Reuters
    A man stands next to a bank destroyed by the protests. Reuters

Three killed as police open fire on protesters in Morocco


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Three people were killed in southern Morocco on Wednesday when police opened fire on protesters, as youth-led demonstrations escalate against corruption and government spending.

Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch on Thursday said three people had been killed in the protests, raising an earlier toll, in his first public address since the unrest began.

Morocco's state news agency had earlier cited local authorities as saying two “troublemakers” were killed by police acting in self-defence. It said they had been attempting to seize officers' weapons.

Anti-government demonstrators in Morocco filled the streets for a fifth straight night, with protests descending into violence.

The two deaths in Leqliaa, about 500 kilometres south of the capital Rabat, were the first in the current wave of unrest as anger mounts over the state of public services.

The rallies, organised by a leaderless movement dominated by internet-savvy youths, have taken the country by surprise and are some of Morocco’s biggest in years.

Those taking part in the so-called “Gen Z protests” are condemning what they see as widespread corruption. They have contrasted the flow of billions in investment towards preparation for co-hosting the 2030 Fifa World Cup with the dire state of schools and hospitals.

Police vans set on fire in Sale, Morocco. AFP
Police vans set on fire in Sale, Morocco. AFP

There have been mass arrests of protesters in more than a dozen cities, particularly in places where jobs and social services are scarce.

Footage from media outlets and video filmed by witnesses on Tuesday showed protesters hurling rocks and setting vehicles on fire in cities in the country's east and south, including Inzegane and Ait Amira.

In Oujda, eastern Morocco’s largest city, a police vehicle that rammed into demonstrators left one person injured, the state news agency MAP said.

In its first public statement since the start of the protests on Saturday, Morocco’s Interior Ministry said the anonymously organised demonstrations lacked authorisation and had been dealt with in accordance with the law.

It said those found to be breaking the law would be treated “rigorously and firmly”, adding that 409 people had been taken into police custody.

At least 263 members of law enforcement were injured during the nationwide protests and more than 160 vehicles damaged, the ministry added. At least 23 civilians were injured.

As Morocco prepares to host the Africa Cup of Nations football tournament later this year and politicians gear up for parliamentary elections in 2026, protesters have drawn attention to the depth of disparities in wealth.

Many Moroccans have expressed support for the protest movement, including star goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and rapper ElGrande Toto.

Officials have denied prioritising World Cup spending over public infrastructure, saying problems facing the health sector were inherited from previous governments.

In Morocco’s parliament, the governing majority said it would meet on Thursday to discuss healthcare and hospital reforms as part of a meeting headed by Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch.

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Motori Profile

Date started: March 2020

Co-founder/CEO: Ahmed Eissa

Based: UAE, Abu Dhabi

Sector: Insurance Sector

Size: 50 full-time employees (Inside and Outside UAE)

Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing 

Investors: Safe City Group

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Expo details

Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia

The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.

It is expected to attract 25 million visits

Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.

More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020

The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area

It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South

Can NRIs vote in the election?

Indians residing overseas cannot cast their ballot abroad

Non-resident Indians or NRIs can vote only by going to a polling booth in their home constituency

There are about 3.1 million NRIs living overseas

Indians have urged political parties to extend the right to vote to citizens residing overseas

A committee of the Election Commission of India approved of proxy voting for non-resident Indians

Proxy voting means that a person can authorise someone residing in the same polling booth area to cast a vote on his behalf.

This option is currently available for the armed forces, police and government officials posted outside India

A bill was passed in the lower house of India’s parliament or the Lok Sabha to extend proxy voting to non-resident Indians

However, this did not come before the upper house or Rajya Sabha and has lapsed

The issue of NRI voting draws a huge amount of interest in India and overseas

Over the past few months, Indians have received messages on mobile phones and on social media claiming that NRIs can cast their votes online

The Election Commission of India then clarified that NRIs could not vote online

The Election Commission lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police asking it to clamp down on the people spreading misinformation

'Nightmare Alley'

Director:Guillermo del Toro

Stars:Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara

Rating: 3/5

England squad

Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Dominic Bess, James Bracey, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Ben Foakes, Lewis Gregory, Keaton Jennings, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Amar Virdi, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

How to report a beggar

Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)

Dubai – Call 800243

Sharjah – Call 065632222

Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372

Ajman – Call 067401616

Umm Al Quwain – Call 999

Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411

Updated: October 02, 2025, 3:02 PM