Fifteen men charged over beheadings of female hikers in Morocco

Images of Louisa Vesterager Jespersen and Maren Ueland at a memorial in Copenhagen, Denmark
EPA
Patrick Grafton-Green31 December 2018

Fifteen men have been charged over the murders of two Scandinavian hikers in Morocco.

Prosecutors said the charges include forming a gang to prepare and commit terrorist acts and premeditated murder.

Three of the suspects face additional charges for allegedly urging the others to commit acts of terrorism.

The bodies of 24-year-old Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, from Denmark, and 28-year-old Maren Ueland, from Norway, were found in an isolated area of the Atlas Mountains on December 17.

Louisa Vesterager Jespersen from Denmark 
Bovec Sports Center Archive/via REUTERS

Authorities say both had been beheaded.

The killings have been described as an alleged attack by followers of the Islamic State group.

Victim: Maren Ueland from Norway
AFP/Getty Images

The 15 suspects have been referred to a judge who handles terror-related cases.

More suspects are expected to be charged in the coming days.

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