The Sun
By Patrick Knox
The Danish and Norwegian victims, who were students in their 20s, were discovered by other tourists near the foot of North Africa’s highest peak, Mount Toubkad with what police say was ‘evidence of violence on their necks’ while unverified local reports say they had been decapitated.
THREE men have been arrested after two female backpackers were found with severe neck injuries in their tent at a popular trekking spot in Morocco.
The tourists from Denmark and Norway, who were in their twenties, were discovered yesterday near the village of Imlil in the High Atlas mountain range where they had set up their tent.
They have been named as Louisa Jespersen, 24, from Denmark and Maren Ueland, 28, from Norway who were on a month long trip across the North African country.
According to Morocco World News, a witness, who asked to not to be named, said the women were “allegedly found decapitated”, although this has not been verified.
Their bodies were found in a “remote mountainous region” about 6.2 miles from the centre of the village.
It is reported that three suspects from Marrakesh, who were camping nearby, have been arrested in connection with the murder.
Maren Ueland shared her passion for outdoor activities with her Danish pal
Police at the scene of the double murder of the two students who were camping
Another tourist is said to have found the women dead in their tent
Police arrive at the scene of the killing
A source told Morocco World News: “The suspects were camping in the same area that the murder took place.
“Witnesses saw the group at night as they were heading to the camp area.”
Police are also said to have identified the suspects through CCTV in local shops in the village.
One of the suspects, according to the source, also left his ID card behind at the camp.
The spot where Maren and Louis were found butchered inside their tent
Maren’s mum told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that her daughter was a “warm and engaged”.
She said: “Her first priority was safety.
“The girls had taken all the precautionary measures before embarking on this trip.”
Both were students of “outdoor activities and cultural guidance” at the University of Southeastern Norway.
They had reportedly set up a camp near Imlil which is a popular tourist destination at the foot of the Toubkal peak which is the highest in Africa.
Louisa loved the outdoors and wanted to be a professional guide
Louisa was an outdoor enthusiast who was widely travelled
Her friend Maren Ueland had been training to be a tourist guide
The area nearby Mount Toubkal is a popular trekking spot with Western tourists
The area is a popular starting point for hikes
