Rabat – A local from the village of lmlil told Morocco World News that law enforcement arrested three suspects involved in the killing of two women from Norway and Denmark near Mount Toubkal.
Authorities are now bringing the suspects to demonstrate how they perpetrated the crime in Imlil, a village in the High Atlas Mountains, said the source.
The source said that the three arrested males are from Marrakech.
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“The suspects were camping in the same area that the murder took place,” he said, adding that “witnesses saw the group at night as they were heading to the camp area.”
The source added that the police identified the suspects through surveillance cameras placed in local shops in the village. One of the suspects, according to the source, also left his identity card behind at the camp where he and his friends were staying.
Earlier today, Morocco’s Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation arrested the first suspect in Marrakech.
Tourists in the area found the bodies of the murder victims. “A local guide met the tourists crying and they told him what they saw.” The guide called the Royal Gendarmerie to report the crime. The source told MWN that authorities are still getting the guide’s full statement.
The source excluded robbery as the motive of the crime, as none of the victims’ belongings were missing. However, he said, “sexual assault may have been the motive for the crime.”
One of the women, 24 year old Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, came from Denmark to Morocco against her family’s wishes. In an interview with Danish news sources, Jespersen’s mother said that they pleaded with her to avoid Morocco “because of the chaotic situation.”
Information from Jespersen’s Facebook account showed she studied to become a travel guide in Norway prior to traveling to Morocco. The last post on her Facebook was excitedly announcing her trip. The status reads “Dear friends, [I am] going to Morocco in december. Any of you guys whos around by then or any mountain friends who knows something about Mount Toubkal?”
The other victim, 28 years old Maren Ueland, traveled from Norway with Jespersen, according to Norwegian media.
Ueland’s mother said in an interview that both girls were studying together at the University of South-Eastern Norway. They left Norway on December 9th to spend their holiday backpacking in Morocco.
The women were found in their tent, located about six miles from Imlil, with “signs of violence on their necks,” according to the Interior Ministry Authorities, who proceeded to close down the entire area.
Morocco is statistically one of the safest African countries, leaving locals noticeably shocked by the murder of the two women.
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