Mohamed Amekrane
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Mohamed Amekrane | |
|---|---|
محمد أمقران | |
 Mohamed Oufkir, Minister of Defence (right), with Lt-Colonel Mohamed Amekrane (left), inspecting pilots at Kenitra Air Base. | |
| Born | 1938 |
| Died | 13 January 1973 (aged 34–35) |
| Cause of death | Execution by firing squad |
| Occupation | Airforce officer |
| Known for | 1972 coup attempt |
Mohamed Amekrane (Arabic: محمد أمقران, romanized: Muḥammad Amuqrān; 1938 – 13 January 1973) was a Moroccan air force officer who was executed after the 1972 coup attempt against King Hassan II of Morocco, known as the "coup of the aviators".
Mohamed Amekrane was born in the Rif in 1938. In 1963 he married Malika Amekrane (born 12 August 1939), a German national. They had two children: Rashid was born on 3 February 1964 and Yasmina on 26 February 1965.[1] Lieutenant Colonel Amekrane became the commander of the Moroccan air force base at Kenitra. His command included Northrop F-5 fighter jets supplied by the U.S.[2]
Coup attempt
In 1972 the Minister of National Defense, Mohamed Oufkir, launched a scheme to assassinate King Hassan II of Morocco. He was assisted by Amekrane and another senior officer.[2] Amekrane's motives appear to have been patriotic, directed against the elite whom he considered to have looted his country following independence.[3]
On 16 August 1972 King Hassan II was returning from a trip to France in a Boeing 727 passenger airplane. Six F-5 jets from the Kenitra base attacked the king's plane when it entered Moroccan air space, but although it was hit by many bullets it was not disabled and the king was unhurt.[2] The passenger plane was able to land safely at Rabat-Salé Airport.[2] Later, air force units attacked the Rabat-Salé Airport and the Royal Palace of Rabat, causing some deaths.[1]