Morocco beheading fanatics taunted spooks in ISIS video days before backpacker killings

The "broken" bodies of Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, from Denmark, and Maren Ueland, 28, of Norway, were discovered by hikers on Monday after the sick monsters filmed a video showing them decapitating one of the women.

On Thursday a separate video was published on Twitter, showing the four suspects pledge their allegiance  to Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi.

Recorded a week before the murders, the men are seen sitting in front of a black and white flag while one declares the group’s intention to carry out terrorist acts while brandishing a knife.

He condemns “destruction caused by the warplanes of the Crusader alliance” and appears to taunt Morocco’s intelligence service, saying “where is your knowledge? For here we are …”

Confirming its authenticity, the Rabat prosecutor issued a statement saying: “The video showing the arrested individuals … pledging allegiance to Daesh was recorded last week before the execution of the criminal acts we are investigating.”

Danish and Norwegian authorities have now both confirmed that the first video showing a beheading was genuine.

But a police source later told the Reuters news agency that it appeared to have been filmed in a different place from where the bodies were found.

Cops yesterday arrested three suspects as they tried to flee on a bus while hiding massive knives and slingshots under their seats.

In the gruesome first video, the perpetrators cry out: "It's Allah's will" and are heard saying: "This is revenge for our brothers in Hajine in Syria. These are your heads, enemy of God", referencing an ISIS stronghold seized by US-backed forces this week.

A national security official has identified three of the suspects to the Associated Press as Abdessamad Ejjoud, born in 1993, Younes Ouziad, born in 1991, and Rashid Aftati, born in 1986.

The brother of prime suspect Younes has described him as "illiterate" and an "enthusiastic hunter" who "refused to get a job".

He is thought to be the first to be arrested after he fled, leaving his identity card at the scene.

He added that his brother seemed "normal" in the days before killing, saying: "Only God knows who influenced him. The police have to control those cells. They have to control them throughout the country because they are brainwashing our brothers and children."

Prior to their hike, Maren and Louisa stayed for a week in a cheap hotel in the heart of Marrakech, vg.no reports – raising concerns that they were followed by their killers from the city.

CCTV footage showed them setting up camp 600 yards from where the women were sleeping – and later leaving the area at 3am on Monday morning.

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.”

Louisa's ex-boyfriend paid tribute to the Danish student in a heartfelt Facebook post.

Glen Martin wrote: "Dear amazing Lulu, funny, full of energy, bundle of joy, inclusive, caring and thoughtful.

"No idea how many times we were on a trip together and I turn around and you were disappeared, because so to find you far behind me because you had to look closer to a beautiful flower, view or something that the average person wouldn't notice even. You saw beauty in every smallest detail."

Glen said the couple had parted this summer but remained "best friends".

He added: "You travelled around the world just as you would, you would not be limited by fear of all the dangers of the world. You did what you wanted and you were tough."

Both women were studying outdoor activities and cultural guidance at the University of Southeastern Norway and attended a campus in Boe, west of Oslo.

Their bodies were found by their tent in an isolated spot two hours walk from the village of Imlil, where hikers often start walks to Mount Toubkal in the Atlas mountains.

AFP reported that the bodies of the women were being flown back to Copenhagen from Morocco on Friday.

Compared to other countries in North Africa, Morocco has been largely insulated from militant attacks.

The most recent took place in April 2011, when around 17 people were killed in a bombing of a restaurant in Marrakech.

A version of this article first appeared on News.com.au on December 21.

Source: Read Full Article