The Moroccan authorities arrested on Saturday an engineering student suspected of planning and preparing a terrorist attack using an explosive belt, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

According to the statement, the suspect, who was arrested in the northern city of Mohammedia, has pledged his "allegiance" to the Islamic State (IS) group.

The suspect was remanded in custody for an investigation under the supervision of the public prosecutor for terrorism to determine possible links with other terrorist plans, in Morocco or abroad, the statement said.

Morocco has busted over 57 terrorist cells since 2015, including eight cells in 2018.