The two women's bodies were left in a tent near the base of Mount Toubkal, a popular hiking destination.
Suspects in the killings of two Scandinavian hikers arrive for their trial at a Moroccan court in Salé near the capital, Rabat, on May 2. By Siobhán O'Grady Siobhán O'Grady WorldViews reporter Email Bio Follow May 2 at 3:08 PM It was a crime so brutal, it seemed almost inconceivable to those familiar with the Moroccan foothills where it took place.
Danish student Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, and her friend Maren Ueland, 28, from Norway, were found dead in their tent with stab wounds to their necks. At least one of them was reportedly beheaded. Soon, video footage that appeared to have documented the brutal act circulated on social media in Morocco and Europe.
The group appeared in court in the city of Salé, close to the capital, Rabat, on Thursday. Some of the men on trial had reportedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, although Reuters reported that Moroccan police spokesman Boubaker Sabik said they acted as “lone wolves.” The Associated Press has reported that more than 1,000 Moroccans are believed to have joined the Islamic State.
The killings rattled Morocco, where attacks on tourists are rare, although a 2011 bombing in a popular tourist area of Marrakesh left 17 people dead. According to Morocco’s Ministry of Tourism, more than 11 million nonresident tourists visited Morocco in 2017. In December, Moroccans held vigils in honor of the two women.
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