Investigators believe murder of gorgeous Scandinavian backpackers was ‘sexually motivated’

[The Bobster]

https://nypost.com/2018/12/19/investigators-believe-murder-of-backpackers-was-sexually-motivated/

Investigators believe murder of gorgeous Scandinavian backpackers was ‘sexually motivated’
By Patrick Knox, The Sun
December 19, 2018 | 12:41pm

Maren Ueland, left, and Louisa Jespersen. Facebook


Detectives investigating the horrific slaughter of two Scandinavian backpackers in their tent in Morocco believe it was sexually motivated.

It’s thought the three suspects from nearby Marrakech may have stalked Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, from Norway and Maren Ueland, 28, from Denmark, before attacking them while they slept on Monday.

The women were found in and outside the tent. One had been decapitated, while the other had a serious throat wound.

But police source told Morocco World News the murder investigation has excluded robbery as the motive because none of the victims’ belongings were missing.

Rather, sexual assault may have been the motive for the crime at a spot six miles from the remote mountain village of Imlil, near the foot of Mount Toubkal, north Africa’s highest peak.

It has emerged that the suspects were camped 600 meters (less than half a mile) from Louisa and Maren.

It is alleged after committing the murders they fled, leaving their tent in which was a forgotten ID of one of the arrested men.

The suspects were also filmed on CCTV moving towards the spot where the women were camping.

They are now being hauled back to the scene of the crime to explain how the killings happened, according to a source.

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.”

 

[The Bobster]

https://nypost.com/2019/05/31/leade...heading-backpacker-in-isis-inspired-slayings/

Leader of jihadist cell admits to beheading backpacker in ISIS-inspired slayings
By Jackie Salo
May 31, 2019 | 9:42am | Updated

Maren Ueland (left) and Louisa Vesterager Jespersen
Facebook


The suspected leader of a jihadist cell accused of butchering two Scandinavian backpackers in Morocco confessed to beheading one of the women.

Abdessamad Ejjoud, 25, told a Moroccan court Thursday that he carried out the murder to pledge allegiance to the Islamic State, the BBC reported.

“I beheaded one of them … I regret it,” Ejjoud said before accusing his co-defendant Younes Ouaziyad of killing the other hiker.

Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, from Denmark, and Maren Ueland, 28, from Norway, were beheaded Dec. 17 in a tent near Mount Toubkal, one of Morocco’s highest peaks.

The women — who were roommates at Norway’s Bo University — had traveled to the High Atlas mountains on a Christmas camping trip, according to BBC.

Disturbing footage of the hikers’ slayings reportedly was shared widely on social media by ISIS supporters.

Authorities said the group was inspired by ISIS but had no contact with the extremist group.

“We loved IS and we prayed to God for it,” Ejjoud told the court.

Ejjoud and two dozen other defendants are on trial for terrorism-related charges.

The three main suspects — including Ejjoud — are accused of having a direct hand in the hikers’ murders and could face the death penalty.