By Moutaz Ali.
Tripoli, 24 May 2017:
Libyans are in shock this afternoon after hearing that the Manchester suicide bomber was from their country.
British police named Salman Abedi, a Libyan-British dual national, as the killer although his Libyan National ID registration reportedly names him as Sulaiman Abedi. Although the family are originally from the east, from Guba, his father was born in Tripoli.
Many in the country are upset because they had hoped to rid it of terrorism and instability, marking a new, positive period. Now, however, they fear the outside world will fear Libya.
“It is disappointing and I offer my condolences to the victims and their families. I can feel them and wish them to not think that all Libyans are terrorists,” Mousa Al-Naili told the Libya Herald.
“It is so sad to hear this news. I can’t understand why this guy has made this terrible act. My deep condolences to all British people,” Aisha Zaatut, a Libyan housewife said.
On the other hand, some Libyan observers and journalists, despite their sorrow at the events, have blamed the British government.
Reda Fhelboom, a well-known Libyan journalist who previously lived for many years in Manchester, said that Britain was paying the price for sheltering extremists. “Britain grants them asylum and rights of residency and now it is paying the price for disregarding their extreme ideology,” he said.
“To hear that those responsible for the attack are Libyan wasn’t a surprise to me since I know that there are many Libyan extremists living in Manchester,” he added.
The same thing was said by prominent analyst Mohamed Eljarh who tweeted that “many Libyan Islamists (LIFG in particular) who fled the Qaddafi regime took refuge in the UK & Manchester is a big centre for them”.
There are unconfirmed reports that Abedi’s father had supported LIFG.
However, the Libyans most affected are those who are living in the UK. The Libya Herald has managed to speak with Ubadah Al-Jabri, a Libyan now based in Manchester.
“Living in Manchester for almost eight years I found it to be a very peaceful city with many religions living in harmony. Hearing this terrible news is both very shocking and upsetting.”
“They have killed women and children, for what reason? Do they think they are going to paradise? The Quran and our Prophet Mohamed have never said that.
“It is senseless and no one deserves this. Where do they get these ideas from? No religion tells us to kill ourselves and others. If by killing we go to paradise everyone would be doing it. As a Libyan I feel I will now be seen to be like them. So sad.”
