Chilling details emerge about the days leading up to horrific slaying of backpackers

WARNING – DISTRESSING CONTENT: Chilling details have emerged about what unfolded in the days preceding the horrific murders of two Scandinavian backpackers on a popular hiking trail in Morocco.

Danish student Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, and 28-year-old Norwegian Maren Ueland were found dead at an isolated trail south of Marrakesh on December 17.

They were hunted down, stabbed, had their throats slit and were then beheaded, according to the head of Morocco’s central office for judicial investigation, Abdelhak Khiam.

A horrific video which allegedly captured Ms Jespersen’s murder, showed the four main suspects pledging allegiance to Islamic State, however police now say the crime was not coordinated with the terrorist group, labelling those responsible as “lone wolves”.

It’s understood that video was later forwarded on to Ms Jespersen’s mother.

“The emir of the group” was Abdessamad Ejjoud, a 25-year-old street vendor living on the outskirts of Marrakesh, Mr Khiam said.

The others suspected of direct involvement in the killings were Abderrahim Khayali, a 33-year-old plumber, 27-year-old carpenter Younes Ouaziyad, and Rachid Afatti, a 33-year-old street vendor.

Mr Khiam said the alleged killers had “agreed under the influence of their emir to carry out a terrorist act… targeting the security services or foreign tourists”.

Two days before the murders, they allegedly went to the Imlil region “because it is frequented by foreigners” and “targeted the two tourists in a deserted area”.

Investigators said that the dismantled “cell” was made up of 18 members, including three with terror-related criminal records.

Nineteen people have now been arrested across several cities, but the brutality of the crime has left a lasting impact on Norway, Denmark and Morocco.

Electronic devices, an unauthorised hunting rifle, knives and materials that could be used for bomb-making were found during police raids.