Two Young Women Who Went on a Dream Holiday Pitched Their Tent Near a Mountain, Unaware Pro-ISIS Extremists Were Watching Them Before a Horrific Accident Took Place

Maren Ueland from Norway and Louisa Vesterager Jespersen from Denmark were both in their mid-20s when they travelled to Morocco for a month-long holiday in December 2018. The two friends loved hiking and outdoor adventures and had planned to explore the beautiful mountains around Mount Toubkal, the highest mountain in North Africa.

After setting up their tent at a remote campsite in the mountains, they were attacked during the night by a group of pro-ISIS extremists. The attackers had gone to the area looking for Western tourists because they wanted to carry out a terrorist attack and record it on video in the hope of gaining recognition from ISIS supporters.

The group included Abdessamad Ejjoud, 26, Rachid Affati, 33, and Younes Ouazid, 27. According to investigators, they had previously planned other terrorist attacks that had failed. They brought camping equipment, mobile phones, recording devices, and several knives to the mountains while waiting for a suitable target.

The two women had decided not to hire a local guide. As night fell on December 14, they pitched their tent, unaware that the extremists had been watching them. After midnight, the attackers approached the campsite and launched a brutal attack.

The men forced their way into the tent and stabbed both women multiple times. Their only goal was to kill them and film the attack for propaganda. Despite trying to escape, Louisa was caught a short distance from the tent. Maren, who had been seriously injured, remained inside the tent before she was also killed.

The attackers filmed parts of the attack and later recorded another video in which they declared support for ISIS and claimed the murders were revenge for military operations against the terrorist group in Syria. However, ISIS never officially claimed responsibility for the attack or accepted the group’s pledge of loyalty.

After the killings, the attackers fled the campsite and tried to avoid being identified. The victims were later found by two French tourists, who immediately alerted the authorities.

Moroccan police launched a major investigation and arrested the attackers along with around 20 other people suspected of having links to their extremist beliefs. Police later described the four main suspects as “lone wolves” and said the attack had not been directed or organised by ISIS.

On July 18, 2019, a Moroccan court sentenced ringleader Abdessamad Ejjoud, Rachid Affati, and Younes Ouazid to death for carrying out the terrorist attack. More than 20 other people received prison sentences for supporting or helping the extremist group. During his trial, Ejjoud told the court that he did not believe in laws or human rights.