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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
National

Swiss-Spanish man arrested over alleged involvement in killing of two Scandinavian hikers

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)

A dual Swiss-Spanish national has been arrested in Morocco accused of being involved in the killings of two Scandinavian hikers.

The central bureau of judicial investigations said the man, who has not been named, was detained in Marrakech.

Moroccan counter-terrorism forces allege he taught social media skills and archery to some suspects who have been arrested over the deaths, Morocco's first terrorist attack in years.

He is also suspected of involvement in recruiting Moroccans for "terrorist schemes" targeted at "foreign interests and security forces".

Twenty people have been arrested so far in the investigation into the killing of the two women, 24-year-old Louisa Vesterager Jespersen from Denmark, and 28-year-old Maren Ueland from Norway, in the Atlas Mountains.

Their bodies were found on December 17.

Authorities believe their killers are affiliated with Islamic State.

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