Our son was brainwashed and framed say parents of Tunisia beach gunman

The parents of the Tunisia beach massacre gunman Seifeddine Rezgui say he was brainwashed into carrying out the killings then framed for them. His family say they are struggling to understand how their hard-working, well-educated boy turned into the killer who shot dead 38 people, including 30 Britons, on a tourist beach. His mother, Radhia Manai, said: “They got to my son. They used him and they framed him for the crime. I can’t imagine he could carry out such an operation? He was carrying his weapon and was just walking. He didn’t fire it. I want to know who fired and then framed him.”

He took a shower and changed his clothes, then he came to me and said ‘Mom I’m going to see a friend for a night and I need 10 dinars’. He hugged and kissed me and he left. From that moment I didn’t see him.

Gunman’s mother Radhia Manai

His parents defended their son in their first British TV interview, describing him as a boy who loved football, dancing and reading and who did well at school. His father, Abdul-Hakim Rezgui, said: “He wanted to make money to help himself. He wanted to buy good clothes.” The family spoke out as thousands of British holidaymakers and staff began returning home from Tunisia amid fears of another extremist attack. The Foreign Office has warned against all but essential travel there following intelligence that a terrorist attack is “highly likely” after last month’s beach shootings. Extra flights are being put on to bring tourists home and two holiday companies, Thomson and First Choice, are returning their staff to Britain.

Further terrorist attacks are highly likely, including in tourist resorts, and by individuals unknown to the authorities whose actions may be inspired by terrorist groups via social media.

Foreign Office statement

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