Aussie tourists attacked in Marrakech
MARRAKECH: Two Australians relaxing by a hotel pool in Morocco with other guests have been hacked with machetes in an unprovoked attack.
The Age newspaper reported that a man and a woman were slashed a number of times about the arms and shoulders by a man wielding a machete in each hand.
The attacker’s rampage began after he climbed a wall into the pool area of the Sofitel Marrakech about 11.15am local time yesterday.
The pair’s travelling companions say there was no apparent motive for the disturbing attack, and no one else was attacked.
Security staff caught the attacker, handing him over to police as the Australians were taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that one Australian and one permanent resident were victims of the unprovoked attack.
A DFAT spokeswoman told theage.com.au: “Local police have apprehended the presumed assailant who is being held for questioning.
The pair had arrived in Marrakech the day before, part of a Pharmaceutical Society of Australia study tour involving 190 society members and their partners.
Society vice-president Debbie Rigby said the pair were sitting about the pool relaxing when the man came over the wall and started hacking them with two machetes.
“Everybody else was running away screaming,” she said in a telephone call to Sydney from the Marrakech hotel.
“As far we can tell it was an isolated incident, and the tour will continue.”
Ms Rigby said the pair’s injuries were not life-threatening.
The attacker had previously received hospital treatment for mental problems, a police source said.
Ian Jarrett
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