Ringleader of hiker killers ‘trained others’

A Muslim convert from Switzerland who admitted inspiring Islamic State (Isis) sympathisers to murder two tourists in Morocco last month is suspected of having trained Britons to carry out attacks in Europe.

Kevin Zoller, 25, was arrested in Morocco on December 29 on suspicion of instructing the four local men who allegedly killed Maren Ueland, 28, and Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, according to Morocco’s Central Bureau for Judicial Investigations.

Zoller has Swiss and Spanish citizenship and the investigation has since widened.

‘‘We are investigating his links with training other terrorist cells in Morocco and Spain to carry out attacks,’’ a source close to the inquiry told the Spanish newspaper El Mundo. ‘‘He may have had contact with Britons and Swiss citizens based in Europe. He spoke to people through social media and directly about how to steal arms, make explosives and put bombs in tourist sites.’’

Ueland, a Norwegian, and Vesterager Jespersen, a Dane, were murdered on December 17 near the village of Imlil, a popular starting point for tourist treks to Mt Toubkal, the highest peak in north Africa.

Last week Zoller appeared in court with six men accused of ‘‘preparation of terrorist acts and training people to join terrorist organisations’’.

Zoller pleaded guilty to the charges. – The Times