~14 dead in serious explosion in Marrakech
 

It isn't clear yet whether this is an accidental gas bottle/water heater explosion, or something more sinister, but given that this is peak tourism time in Marrakech and Djemma el Fna is the top tourist spot, one has to suspect the worst.

That's an awful lot of people dead from a single exploding gas cylinder. These things aren't that big and they tend to break into largish pieces, not enough pieces of shrapnel to kill that many people.

In the meantime, UK Foreign Office advice is for UK Nationals to KEEP AWAY from the square at the moment.

BBC report: BBC News - Morocco: Blast rocks Marrakesh's Djemaa al-Fna square

Portuguese media are also saying the blast was not accidental, it's a criminal hit.

The Algerians say this is an act of terrorists. 11 tourists killed.
Maroc: explosion d'origine criminelle

Just saw a friend's post in Facebook where he says he called some friends there near the blast and they maintain the gas bottles version...

Thoughts to all involved and their families.....sad news, no matter what the cause.....does sound like a terrorist attack though.

Argana at Djema El Fnaa?!

I was there last saturday night. It was the place for an anniversary dinner!

Rui
Portugal

Horrible.
My thoughts are with the victims' families.

Was there on tuesday and wednesday night for dinner, fantastic place. There but for the grace of god.

There is now reports saying it was an attack possibly a suicide bomber and 2 french and 1 brit dead[not 100% confirmed]. ALong with several europeans and a canadian in hospital. The pictures do not look like a small gas cannister explosion thats one hell of a blast.

They found nails in one of the bodies.
A man sat down and ordered an orange juice, and a few minutes later blew himself up.
The owner of Argana was seriously injured.
King Mohamed pardoned a number of prisoners including islamists a couple weeks ago.
Maroc : Marrakech secouée par un attentat - Monde - El Watan

Snap Analysis: Cafe bombing hits at Morocco's economy | Reuters
Moroccan tourist cafe terrorist attack leaves at least 15 dead | World news | The Guardian
16 dead, 20 injured.

Best analysis is from The View from Fez weblog.

My thoughts go out not just to the bereaved, but also to all those who will suffer through the lack of income from tourism.

Blogger analysis
Who bombed Marrakesh?

Must admit rather strange no one has come forward taking out several western people is something that they would normally be jumping up and down about.