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Rabat – Canada updated its travel advisory for Morocco on December 20, three days after authorities found the bodies of two Scandinavian tourists near Mount Toubkal in the Atlas Mountains.
Canada advised citizens to “exercise a high degree of caution in Morocco due to the threat of terrorism.”
“There is a threat of terrorism in Morocco, and attacks have targeted foreigners,” wrote the Canadian government, referring to the case of Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, from Denmark, and Maren Ueland, 28, of Norway.
Until last week, Morocco had not been affected by terror attacks since 2011. The 2018 Global Terrorism Index, published in November, listed Morocco among countries least impacted by terrorism.
Read Also: Terrorism: Morocco Safer Than Algeria, US, France
The Canadian government, however, warned citizens that “terrorist attacks could occur at any time. Targets could include government buildings, places of worship, schools, transportation hubs and public areas frequented by foreigners (such as tourist attractions), restaurants, bars, coffee shops, shopping centres, markets and hotels (specifically coastal beach resorts).”
Moroccan officials and the head of Morocco’s Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation (BCIJ), Abdelhak Khiame, reacted to the murders, saying that every country faces the threat of terrorism.
Speaking about Morocco’s international counterterrorism cooperation, Khiame said that every country has terror threats, and therefore, countries should exercise heightened caution. He added that Morocco has the necessary equipment to face terror threats.
BCIJ is investigating the crime committed against two tourists as a terror attack.
Some local and international news outlets reported that the double murder, which took place 10 kilometers from Imlil, will affect tourism in Morocco.
However, Danish travel agencies confirmed that tourists are still willing to come to Morocco despite the shock over the double murder.
According to the spokesman for the Danish Spies travel agency, Torben Andersen, his company has already sent over 500 travelers and will be sending 50 more Danish tourists to Agadir and Marrakech in the near future.
