Morocco Terror Trial: Imlil Attackers Confess to Beheading Scandinavian Tourists

Aged 26, the leader of this terrorist cell, Abdessamad Joud, residing in the commune of Tamansourt in Marrakech, had already had dealings with the justice system, serving a three-year prison sentence for attempting to join the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. He had also tried to join the Islamic branch in Libya, unsuccessfully, before turning to the manufacture of explosives and considering attacking the security forces to seize their weapons.

The chance encounter with the two Scandinavian tourists took place on the evening of December 17th, as they were heading towards the Chamharouch mausoleum in the Imlil region. The three individuals pitched their tent a few meters from the two young women, before surprising them around midnight by stabbing them while the third individual filmed the scene. The two accomplices then decided to behead the two Scandinavians.

Subsequently, the three accomplices traveled about twenty kilometers to reach Marrakech, where they posted the video of the crime on the Telegram application, as well as another in which they pledge allegiance to Daesh, threatening to carry out other terrorist operations in Morocco.

A few hours later, the three individuals were arrested by the security services as they were heading towards Agadir on a bus. In his statements to the investigating judge, the leader of this cell says he regrets his actions: "I sincerely regret my actions, and I ask God for forgiveness and repentance."