Moroccan politician shot dead in affluent Casablanca neighbourhood

A Moroccan parliamentarian was shot dead in Casablanca, according to reports from local media on Wednesday.

Abdellatif Merdas was killed late on Tuesday near his home in the affluent Californie district in the south of the city after the car he was travelling in was hit three times by shotgun fire, private news websites reported.

Initial crime scene statements, reported Al-Yaoum 24, indicated the presence of a black car in the neighbourhood before the scene of the attack potentially used by Merdas' assailant, or assailants. 

The car consequently fled the scene following the attack.

Local reports on Wednesday said that a 27-year-old person had been arrested by Moroccan police in connection with the crime. 

The individual, local media reported, hails from
Ben Ahmed, around 80km inland from Casablanca, and also Merdas' home town.

Initial reports, noted The New Arab's Morocco-based correspondent Hassan Achraf, suggested that the motive behind the crime was personal and not political.

Raids conducted at the home of the suspect resulted in the seizure of two hunting rifles and cartridges similar to those used in the attack, reported SawtSouss.

Translation: Pictures from the scene ... (of) the assasination of MP Abdellatif Merdas.

The 51-year-old Merdas was a member of the liberal Constitutional Union party, and represented Ben Ahmed in Morocco's parliament.

Shootings are uncommon in Morocco, where there are few firearms outside state control.