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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World

Fifteen men charged over beheadings of female hikers in Morocco

A portrait of Louisa Vesterager Jespersen and Maren Ueland are seen at a makeshift memorial among flowers and candles, in Town Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark (Picture: EPA)

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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