The distraught father of 23-year-old student, Seifeddine Rezgui, apologised for his child's actions and expressed utter incomprehension regarding the seemingly random attack which left dozens of holidaymakers dead in the popular beach resort of Sousse.
Opening up about the shocking incident, Hakim Rezgui said: "My God, I am so shocked. I don’t know who has contacted him, influenced him or who has put these ideas in his head. He has new friends who got him into this."
Insisting the attack was utterly out of character, the gunman's heartbroken father went on to say: "My son had no problem with anyone. But I don’t know who has changed his mind, influenced him and who has warped his mind. I wish there had been no victims, no one hurt."
Paying tribute to the victims of his son's actions, Hakim apologised on behalf of his family.
Insisting they were unaware of their son's intentions, the student's father said: "I had no idea and I am really sorry. I am upset to see those victims. I feel the loss of the families so strongly. I feel like I have died along with the victims. I am so ashamed for me, for his mother, for all our family."
Hakim's son, who was a student at the University of Kairouan, had apparently displayed no behaviour which suggested he would be capable of such an atrocity.
According to the student's uncle, Mr. Rezgui was "just like other young men."
Our thoughts go out to all those affected by Friday's devastating incident.
