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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/20/morocco-killing-of-scandinavian-women-linked-to-militants-says-prosecutor
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| Video of Morocco murder authenticated as terror fears mount | Video of Morocco murder authenticated as terror fears mount |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Danish intelligence services have authenticated a video circulating on social media that shows the murder of one of two Scandinavian women killed in Morocco as fears mount that the tourists were killed by Islamist extremists. | Danish intelligence services have authenticated a video circulating on social media that shows the murder of one of two Scandinavian women killed in Morocco as fears mount that the tourists were killed by Islamist extremists. |
| The authentication was confirmed in a statement released on Thursday. It came as Moroccan authorities arrested three more suspects over the killings in the Atlas mountains. | The authentication was confirmed in a statement released on Thursday. It came as Moroccan authorities arrested three more suspects over the killings in the Atlas mountains. |
| The men were arrested in Marrakech as they tried to flee by bus to the popular tourist resort of Agadir according to a national security spokesman, Boubker Sabik, who told the Associated Press that authorities were investigating whether they had terrorist affiliations. | |
| The men were seized with three long machete-like knives, a shorter blade, a sling shot and several mobile phones. Another suspect, arrested in Marrakech on Tuesday, had affiliations to an extremist group, Moroccan authorities have said and had apparently identified the others involved. | |
| The bodies of Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, from Denmark, and Maren Ueland, 28, from Norway, were found on Monday in an isolated area near Imlil, which is on the route to Toubkal, north Africa’s highest peak and a popular hiking destination. | The bodies of Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, from Denmark, and Maren Ueland, 28, from Norway, were found on Monday in an isolated area near Imlil, which is on the route to Toubkal, north Africa’s highest peak and a popular hiking destination. |
| According to some local media reports the killers had camped near their victims, about four miles’ hike from the nearest town, and fled after the attack. | |
| The bodies were found on Monday by two Frenchwomen who were hiking near the remote spot where Jespersen and Ueland had pitched their tent. | |
| “We took a picture to show the police where we found them and went down again”, one of the witnesses told the Norwegian tabloid VG. | |
| “We warned everyone we saw [from the nearby town of] Imlil from going there. I did not want more to see what we had seen.” | |
| One of the women was found inside their tent and the other outside. Both had fatal wounds around the neck. According to a source who spoke to the AFP news agency, one of the bodies had been decapitated. | One of the women was found inside their tent and the other outside. Both had fatal wounds around the neck. According to a source who spoke to the AFP news agency, one of the bodies had been decapitated. |
| “The PET [Danish intelligence service] confirms that a video circulating on the internet shows the murder of one of the two women killed in Morocco,” it said in a statement on Thursday. In an earlier statement PET said Moroccan authorities had indicated that the killings may be related Islamic State. | “The PET [Danish intelligence service] confirms that a video circulating on the internet shows the murder of one of the two women killed in Morocco,” it said in a statement on Thursday. In an earlier statement PET said Moroccan authorities had indicated that the killings may be related Islamic State. |
| The killing can be considered “politically motivated and thus an act of terror”, the Danish prime minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, said on Thursday. He said “there are still dark forces that want to fight our values” and “we must not give in”. | The killing can be considered “politically motivated and thus an act of terror”, the Danish prime minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, said on Thursday. He said “there are still dark forces that want to fight our values” and “we must not give in”. |
| In Norway, the prime minister, Erna Solberg, said terrorism “is not the only lead that is being investigated in Morocco” but said the case still “emphasises the importance of combating violent extremism”. | In Norway, the prime minister, Erna Solberg, said terrorism “is not the only lead that is being investigated in Morocco” but said the case still “emphasises the importance of combating violent extremism”. |
| Jespersen, from Denmark, had posted on Facebook about her upcoming trip before leaving. “Dear friends, I’m going to Morocco in December. Any of you guys who’s around by then or any mountain friends who knows something about Mount Toubkal?” | Jespersen, from Denmark, had posted on Facebook about her upcoming trip before leaving. “Dear friends, I’m going to Morocco in December. Any of you guys who’s around by then or any mountain friends who knows something about Mount Toubkal?” |
| The killings have prompted concerns about the impact on Morocco’s tourist sector, which accounts for 10% of national income, as the kingdom’s relative security has always been a major selling point. | The killings have prompted concerns about the impact on Morocco’s tourist sector, which accounts for 10% of national income, as the kingdom’s relative security has always been a major selling point. |
| In the videos that have been circulating a voice can reportedly be heard speaking of the “enemies of Allah” several times and referring to “revenge for our brothers in Hajin”, referring to the last stronghold of Isis in Syria, which fell a few days ago. | In the videos that have been circulating a voice can reportedly be heard speaking of the “enemies of Allah” several times and referring to “revenge for our brothers in Hajin”, referring to the last stronghold of Isis in Syria, which fell a few days ago. |
| The two victims were friends from the University of South-Eastern Norway, where they were studying together. “What we know is that they were on a month-long, private holiday in Morocco. Our thoughts go to the families,” the university said. | The two victims were friends from the University of South-Eastern Norway, where they were studying together. “What we know is that they were on a month-long, private holiday in Morocco. Our thoughts go to the families,” the university said. |
| Associated Press contributed to this report | Associated Press contributed to this report |
| Morocco | Morocco |
| Africa | Africa |
| Middle East and North Africa | Middle East and North Africa |
| news | news |
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