EXCLUSIVE Horror in paradise: How an Islamist extremist savagely gunned down 30 Brits on a Tunisian beach in less than 30 minutes - as their families continue to mourn 10 years on

Daily Mail​

3 days ago

The Riu Imperial Marhaba in Tunisia was supposed to be an idyllic retreat - where Brits soaked up the tropical heat from white plastic sunbeds with cold beers in hand.
But on June 26 2015 - ten years ago today - the tranquil seaside resort would become a nightmare as an Islamic terrorist systematically gunned down innocent holidaymakers on his way through the grounds.
After just 21 minutes and 38 seconds 38 people would lie dead in a horrific killing spree that left the world reeling.
30 of those killed by 23-year-old gunman Seifeddine Rezgui were British.
Rezgui - who hid his AK-47 assault rifle concealed in a parasol - began his horror attack by shooting at sunbathers on the beach.
The young Tunisian, who had trained with Islamic militants in neighbouring Libya, then worked his way on to the hotel pool before throwing a grenade into the five-star hotel.
In the hotel reception area, he let off grenades, killing one of his youngest victims, Carly Lovett, who was just 24.
The 23-year-old also claimed the lives of three victims from one Midlands family - Joel Richards, 19, his uncle Adrian Evans, 44, and his grandfather Patrick, 78.
Rezgui - who was high on cocaine at the time - was shot dead by police after carrying out the attack, for which terror group Islamic State claimed responsibility.
After his death, police said he could have killed many more. An unexploded bomb was found on his person - with the detonator just inches away from his body.
Rezgui's family say he was brainwashed while studying for a master's degree in Kairouan, 35 miles inland from Sousse.
After holding inquests into the British deaths in January and February 2017, Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith concluded that the response of Tunisian police was 'at best shambolic, at worst cowardly'.
He said hotel guards were not armed and had no walkie-talkies. Scenes of bravery on the day saw locals attempting to stop Rezgui by throwing roof tiles, and teenagers defying their own injuries to hide and help those most in need.
Among those who later faced trial were six security personnel accused of failing to provide assistance to people in danger during the Sousse attack. Six policemen were also among the defendants, charged with potentially criminal negligence and delay.
Families battling for justice only receiving a settlement from travel firm Tui in 2022.
In 2019 seven jihadists involved in the attacks at a museum in Tunis and on the beach in Sousse were handed life sentences.
The closely linked shootings, which occurred just months apart in Tunis and Sousse, saw dozens of defendants go on trial, with many acquitted.
Four were sentenced to life in prison for the shooting rampage at a Sousse tourist resort in June 2015, which killed 38 people, mostly British tourists.
Five other defendants in the Sousse case were handed jail terms ranging from six months to six years, while 17 were acquitted, prosecution spokesman Sofiene Sliti said.
Three were given life sentences for the earlier attack in March 2015 at the capital's Bardo National Museum, in which two gunmen killed 21 foreign tourists and a Tunisian security guard.
Others found guilty of links to the Bardo attack were sentenced to prison terms ranging from one to 16 years, and a dozen defendants were acquitted.
THE 30 BRITONS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE BEACH MASSACRE
In all, 30 Britons were killed in the Tunisian beach massacre, along with three Irish citizens.
One British tourist was shot dead in an earlier attack on the country's national museum.
They were:
British tourist Sally Adey, 57, from Shropshire, was among 22 people killed as ISIS terrorists opened fire at the Bardo National Museum in the capital Tunis in March 2015
Joel Richards, 19, a student at the University of Worcester and a talented football referee, believed to be the youngest of the British victims in the Sousse attack in June 2015; his uncle Adrian Evans, a manager at Sandwell Council in the West Midlands; and his grandfather Charles 'Patrick' Evans, 78
Former plumber John Welch, 74, and his partner Eileen Swannack, 73, from Wiltshire. The couple, who had been together for eight years, were staying at the RIU Imperial Marhaba, a hotel they 'adored' and stayed in every year of their relationship
Christopher Bell, 59, and his 54-year-old wife Sharon, from Leeds
John Stollery, 58, a social worker from Nottinghamshire. He was on holiday with his wife Cheryl and son. He worked with children in care at Nottinghamshire County Council, and his wife said 'he made a difference and gave his best to others'
Retired scientist David Thompson, 80, from Tadley, Hampshire. It is understood he used to work for the Atomic Weapons Establishment and was a keen walker
Chris Dyer, 32, an engineer who practised jiu-jitsu, from Watford. He was on holiday with his wife Gina Van Dort when he was shot. She clung on to her dead husband's hand as paramedics tried to get her to safety, according to reports
Trudy Jones, 51, a divorced single mother-of-four from Gwent, South Wales. Described by her family as 'a caring person who put everyone else before herself', she had been holidaying with friends when she was killed
Bruce Wilkinson, 72, a grandfather who was said to be a retired power station worker from Goole, East Yorkshire. He was described by his family as a 'kind and compassionate man'
Lisa Burbidge, 66, a grandmother-of-four from Whickham, Gateshead. Her family said she doted on her grandchildren and described her as the 'most beautiful, amazing, caring and gentle person in our lives'
Carly Lovett, 24, from Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. The fashion blogger, who was on holiday with her fiance Liam, reportedly survived the massacre on the beach only to die when a grenade was thrown into her hotel
Former Birmingham City football player Denis Thwaites, 70, and his wife Elaine, 69, who lived in Blackpool. They had arrived at the resort two days before the attack. Mr Thwaites, a hospital porter, played for Birmingham City from 1962 to 1972 while his wife worked in hospitality
Philip Heathcote, 52, from Felixstowe, Suffolk. His wife Allison, 48, was seriously injured in the attack. The couple had been celebrating their 30th anniversary when they were caught up in the atrocity
Engineer Stephen Mellor, 59, from Bodmin in Cornwall. He was killed as he shielded his wife Cheryl on the beach
Sue Davey, 43, from Staffordshire, and her partner Scott Chalkley, from Derby. The couple worked for Severn Trent Water, who described them as passionate and hugely caring
Claire Windass, 54, from Hull. She was killed while her husband Jim survived the attack
Jim and Ann McQuire, aged 66 and 63, from Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire. Mr McQuire was a captain in the Boys' Brigade, a Christian youth organisation, which said it was 'shocked and deeply saddened' by his death
Stuart Cullen, 52, from Lowestoft in Suffolk. He is believed to have died instantly. His wife was injured but survived
Billy and Lisa Graham, from Bankfoot near Perth in Scotland. The couple were on a trip to the tourist resort of Sousse to celebrate Mrs Graham's 50th birthday
Retired printer John Stocker, 74, and his wife Janet, 63, from Morden, Surrey. Their family said the pair 'were the happiest, most loving couple'
Ray and Angela Fisher, believed to be aged 75 and 69, from Leicester. Their son Adam, from Redhill in Surrey, had not spoken to his parents since they left for their holiday
The Irish victims were: Lorna Carty, a mother-of-two from Robinstown, Co Meath. Bishop of Meath Michael Smith said Mrs Carty was the victim of a 'senseless killing'
Husband and wife Laurence and Martina Hayes, both in their 50s, from Athlone in Co Westmeath. Mr Hayes was a schools transport inspector who had worked for Bus Eireann for the last 20 years.