A tragedy shakes Libya.. A father kills his seven children and then commits suicide in Benghazi

The city of Benghazi in Libya witnessed a horrific crime committed by citizen Hassan Khairallah Shweirf Al-Zawi, who killed his seven children before shooting himself in a suicide, as confirmed by the Director of Security in Benghazi, Major General Salah Hweidi.


Initial investigation results

The investigations revealed that the perpetrator shot six of his children inside his car in the Hawari area, while the seventh child was found inside a suitcase and had died after being tortured.
It was also found that all the victims were shot in the head, while the father shot himself in the same manner.
Forensic evidence, through reviewing surveillance cameras, analyzing fingerprints, and phone recordings, confirmed that the father was the sole perpetrator of the crime.


Wife's testimony

The killer's wife stated during the investigations that the weapon used belonged to her husband, and that he had been taking care of the children recently due to a family dispute that led her to stay with her family.
She confirmed that the father had been suffering from noticeable psychological stress during that period.


Testimonies from the perpetrator's surroundings

The head of the Supreme Council of Al-Zawi Tribes, Sheikh Al-Sanousi Al-Haleq Al-Zawi, stated that the perpetrator's relatives and witnesses confirmed that his mental state had been extremely poor recently, and that he lived in complete isolation after separating from his wives.
He pointed out that reports indicated he had resorted to strange practices related to magic and sorcery in the past months.


Sequence of the crime

The investigations indicated that the crime likely began with the killing of the eldest son, who was subjected to repeated violence from his father, before the father proceeded to kill the rest of his children and commit suicide inside the car where the bodies were found.


Community shock and ongoing investigation

This crime has caused widespread shock in Libya and the Arab world, due to its rare cruelty and brutality.
The security authorities in Benghazi are still continuing their investigations to complete the collection of evidence and determine the psychological and social motives behind the tragic incident.