In May 2003 , Islamist suicide bombers simultaneously struck a series of sites in Casablanca , killing 45 and injuring more than 100 others . The Moroccan government responded with a crackdown against Islamist extremists , ultimately arresting several thousand , prosecuting 1,200 , and sentencing about 900 . Additional arrests followed in June 2004 . That same month , the United States designated Morocco a major non-North Atlantic Treaty Organization ally , stating that it was in recognition of its efforts to thwart international terrorism . On January 1 , 2006 , a comprehensive bilateral free trade agreement between the United States and Morocco took effect . The agreement had been signed in 2004 along with a similar agreement with the European Union , Morocco 's main trade partner
struck a series of sites in Casablanca
2003 Casablanca bombings
History of Morocco