Rabat, Dec 18 (IANS): Two Scandinavian women backpackers have been found dead in Morocco with cuts to their necks, an interior ministry statement said.

Both bodies were found on Monday inside their tent 10 km from the town of Imlil in the High Atlas mountain range.

The families of the women, from Denmark and Norway, have been notified, officials from the two countries confirmed.

A suspect has been arrested in the city of Marrakesh on suspicion of murder, according to Moroccan authorities. Hismotive was not yet claer, more arrests were expected, the BBC reported.

The women were sharing the tent near the foot of North Africa's highest peak, Mount Toubkal, reports said.

One of the women was named as Maren Ueland, 28, from Norway. Danish officials have not yet confirmed the identity of the second woman.

The pair were studying at the University of South-Eastern Norway and had gone backpacking for their Christmas holiday on December 9.

Ueland's mother had shared a picture on social media of her daughter with the simple message: "Our Maren".