Up to 11 foreigners and three Moroccans have been killed after a suicide bomber blew himself up inside a popular tourist cafe in Marrakech.
The explosion ripped through the Argana Cafe in the city's Jamaa Lafna Square just before midday, killing 14 people in total and injuring up to 80 others.
A Downing Street spokesman confirmed that a consular team has been dispatched to the city following claims that a Briton was among the victims, although the report is still unconfirmed.
The explosion happened after gas canisters were set alight in the cafe, leaving the second floor of the terracotta building destroyed and awnings hanging in the street.
The blast is thought to be Morocco's worst bombing in eight years.
Officials confirmed several casualties from the explosion in the cafe's basement, but would not state specific numbers of those killed.
Witnesses described chaos and panic on the busy square in Marrakech after the explosion destroyed the cafe's entire second floor.
One worker at the cafe claimed that the alleged bomber blew himself up after sitting down inside to order food.
French posting on Twitter also claimed the bomber was dressed in a Real Madrid shirt, with other reports stating a French couple from Marseilles among the fatalities.
Jamaa Lafna Square, also known as Djemaa El Fna square, is a popular tourist destination known for its snake charmers, fire breathers and its old medina.
Moroccan officials confirmed they're investigating one report of the blast being caused by a suicide bomber.
A police spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that there have been reports of one.
'These tactics have been used by terrorists in Morocco in the past.'
Moroccan government spokesman Khalid Naciri said that the 14 dead came from a variety of countries but he did not say which ones.
Naciri told France-24 television: 'We worked for more than an hour, maybe less, on the hypothesis that this could eventually be accidental.
'But initial results of the investigation confirm that we are confronted with a true criminal act.'
Portuguese tourist Alexandre Carvalho, a 34 year-old call-centre worker, said, 'I had just arrived at the square, the area where most cafes are located.
Suddenly I heard this massive explosion, I had my back turned to it, I turned around to see it the explosion had happened on the veranda of a cafe.
'I saw people in a panic running towards the area with fire extinguishers, some people being carried away.
'I believe the injured were mostly tourists, judging by what they were wearing.'
A local police spokesman said: 'The canisters may have been set on fire deliberately and terrorism cannot be ruled out.
'This atrocity is currently being viewed as a criminal act. Evidence is being collected at the scene and survivors interviewed.
'We do not know victims’ nationalities yet, but there are certainly foreigners among them.'
Cafe Argana is mentioned in tourist travel guides as a place where locals rub shoulders with holidaymakers.
The upper terrace is regarded as one of the best places to see the sun set over the city.
Despite being a hugely popular tourist destination, Morocco has a history of Islamic terrorism, with western visitors warned to be on their guard at all times.
Officials did not say if they suspected the involvement of Islamist militants.
The militants' last big attack was a series of suicide bombings in Morocco's commercial capital, Casablanca, in 2003 in which more than 45 people were killed.
The Casablanca stock exchange was down 0.41 percent on news of the explosion in Marrakech. Before reports emerged of the blast it has been trading up 0.13 percent.
Describing this morning’s explosion, eye witness Andy Birnie, from north London, told the Associated Press: 'There was a huge bang, and lots of smoke went up, there was debris raining down from the sky.
‘Hundreds of people were running in panic, some towards the cafe, some away from the square. The whole front of the cafe is blown away.'
Mr Birnie, who was enjoying a honeymoon in Marrakech with his new wife, added: 'It was lunchtime so the square was very busy. We had just walked into the square, but were shielded by some stalls.
'The locals are telling us it was gas bottles exploding.'
A spokesman for Morocco’s Interior Ministry confirmed that the explosion appeared to be a 'criminal act'.
Abdul Dabi, a 32-year-old Moroccan witness, said: 'The explosion was huge – it ripped throughout the square sending debris everywhere.
'A number of us were able to run for cover. I managed to get behind a market stall. The café's entire second floor was destroyed.
'Police arrived very quickly and then there was panic.'
As well as Islamic terrorism, Morocco has also been affected by recent protests connected with the Arab Spring calls for democracy.
Protestors object to the country being run by Hassan VI, accusing him of being an autocratic who uses his army to carry out human rights abuses.
Tourism is one of Morocco's biggest industries, and those who oppose the regime frequently threaten to disrupt it.
The explosion ripped through the Argana Cafe in the city's Jamaa Lafna Square just before midday, killing 14 people in total and injuring up to 80 others.
A Downing Street spokesman confirmed that a consular team has been dispatched to the city following claims that a Briton was among the victims, although the report is still unconfirmed.
The explosion happened after gas canisters were set alight in the cafe, leaving the second floor of the terracotta building destroyed and awnings hanging in the street.
The blast is thought to be Morocco's worst bombing in eight years.
Officials confirmed several casualties from the explosion in the cafe's basement, but would not state specific numbers of those killed.
Witnesses described chaos and panic on the busy square in Marrakech after the explosion destroyed the cafe's entire second floor.
One worker at the cafe claimed that the alleged bomber blew himself up after sitting down inside to order food.
French posting on Twitter also claimed the bomber was dressed in a Real Madrid shirt, with other reports stating a French couple from Marseilles among the fatalities.
Jamaa Lafna Square, also known as Djemaa El Fna square, is a popular tourist destination known for its snake charmers, fire breathers and its old medina.
Moroccan officials confirmed they're investigating one report of the blast being caused by a suicide bomber.
A police spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that there have been reports of one.
'These tactics have been used by terrorists in Morocco in the past.'
Moroccan government spokesman Khalid Naciri said that the 14 dead came from a variety of countries but he did not say which ones.
Naciri told France-24 television: 'We worked for more than an hour, maybe less, on the hypothesis that this could eventually be accidental.
'But initial results of the investigation confirm that we are confronted with a true criminal act.'
Portuguese tourist Alexandre Carvalho, a 34 year-old call-centre worker, said, 'I had just arrived at the square, the area where most cafes are located.
Suddenly I heard this massive explosion, I had my back turned to it, I turned around to see it the explosion had happened on the veranda of a cafe.
'I saw people in a panic running towards the area with fire extinguishers, some people being carried away.
'I believe the injured were mostly tourists, judging by what they were wearing.'
A local police spokesman said: 'The canisters may have been set on fire deliberately and terrorism cannot be ruled out.
'This atrocity is currently being viewed as a criminal act. Evidence is being collected at the scene and survivors interviewed.
'We do not know victims’ nationalities yet, but there are certainly foreigners among them.'
Cafe Argana is mentioned in tourist travel guides as a place where locals rub shoulders with holidaymakers.
Despite being a hugely popular tourist destination, Morocco has a history of Islamic terrorism, with western visitors warned to be on their guard at all times.
Officials did not say if they suspected the involvement of Islamist militants.
The militants' last big attack was a series of suicide bombings in Morocco's commercial capital, Casablanca, in 2003 in which more than 45 people were killed.
The Casablanca stock exchange was down 0.41 percent on news of the explosion in Marrakech. Before reports emerged of the blast it has been trading up 0.13 percent.
Describing this morning’s explosion, eye witness Andy Birnie, from north London, told the Associated Press: 'There was a huge bang, and lots of smoke went up, there was debris raining down from the sky.
‘Hundreds of people were running in panic, some towards the cafe, some away from the square. The whole front of the cafe is blown away.'
Mr Birnie, who was enjoying a honeymoon in Marrakech with his new wife, added: 'It was lunchtime so the square was very busy. We had just walked into the square, but were shielded by some stalls.
'The locals are telling us it was gas bottles exploding.'
A spokesman for Morocco’s Interior Ministry confirmed that the explosion appeared to be a 'criminal act'.
Abdul Dabi, a 32-year-old Moroccan witness, said: 'The explosion was huge – it ripped throughout the square sending debris everywhere.
'A number of us were able to run for cover. I managed to get behind a market stall. The café's entire second floor was destroyed.
'Police arrived very quickly and then there was panic.'
As well as Islamic terrorism, Morocco has also been affected by recent protests connected with the Arab Spring calls for democracy.
Protestors object to the country being run by Hassan VI, accusing him of being an autocratic who uses his army to carry out human rights abuses.
Tourism is one of Morocco's biggest industries, and those who oppose the regime frequently threaten to disrupt it.
