Charlie Smith
MOROCCAN authorities have detained a Swiss-Spanish national in connection with the brutal killing of two Scandinavian backpackers.
Maren Ueland, 28 from Norway and Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24 from Denmark were slaughtered while camping in the Atlas Mountains.
Counter-terrorism officers in the north African country claim the man taught social media and archery skills to some other suspects arrested in connection with the killings.
The individual is also suspected of recruiting Moroccans for ‘terrorist schemes’ aimed at ‘foreign interests and security forces’, the Evening Standard reported.
The women’s corpses were located on December 17 and police currently believe the killers are affiliated to Islamic State (IS).
So far 20 men have been arrested in the investigation into the killing, which took place near to the tourist village of Imlil.
Four of those men arrested are main suspects, all of whom pledged allegiance to IS just three days before the double killing occurred.
Hundred’s from Maren’s hometown of Bryne held a candlelit vigil for her last week, including many family and friends.
“We want to show that we care about each other, and that we are together for a kinder world,” said Odd Ivar Nese, one of those who organised the event, the Mail reported.
