Royal Gendarmerie officers were forced to fire warning shots during a security operation in Morocco’s Kenitra Province after coming under attack from a large group of individuals, local authorities said.
The incident occurred in the commune of Sidi Mohamed Ben Mansour, where tensions escalated as nearly 200 people gathered and disrupted ongoing work at two agricultural farms. According to local officials, protesters also set fire to an earthmoving machine, prompting the intervention of law enforcement to restore order.
Authorities said the situation quickly turned violent when several individuals surrounded the responding gendarmes, threw stones and attempted to assault them while damaging an official service vehicle. Facing what officials described as a serious threat to their safety, Royal Gendarmerie officers fired warning shots to disperse the crowd and regain control of the situation.
During the operation, two protesters were accidentally injured by bullet fragments. Both were transferred to the Azzamouri Provincial Hospital in Kenitra, where they received medical treatment. Authorities said their condition is stable.
The clashes also resulted in damage to a Civil Protection fire truck and injuries to two members of the Royal Gendarmerie, including one officer who sustained serious injuries. Both officers were taken to the same hospital for treatment.
Security forces ultimately dispersed the gathering and restored calm to the area. Moroccan authorities have opened a judicial investigation under the supervision of the competent public prosecutor to establish the circumstances surrounding the violence, identify those involved and determine individual legal responsibilities.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue gathering evidence related to the incident.
