“As a mum, I’ll always think … what could I have done.”
After the gut-wrenching documentory aired on Channel 10 yesterday, Sally Evans and her son Michael were on The Project tonight sharing their story, and urging other families whose children are in danger of radicalisation to seek help.
Host Carrie Bickmore told Sally Evans, “As a mum I can only imagine how devastating losing Thomas in this way is…”
You can watch The Project’s interview with Sally and Michael here:
Thomas was killed after being involved in over 150 attacks, which killed more than 500 peole, with terrorist group Al-Shabaab
“You have good days and you have bad days,” Evans told Bickmore. “As a mum, I’ll always think what could I have done.”
“Thomas, he will always be part of our lives…but when I found out what he was doing, then I was glad he was gone.” A heartbreaking sentiment echoed by Thomas’ brother Michael. “It’s hard to say, but it’s how I feel [too],” he said.
It is difficult to imagine how Evans is able to reconcile the son she knew, with the terrorist he became.”It’s hard to put into words what I feel for them,” said Evans. “They took Thomas to go and do their dirty work.”
Sally Evans’ message to parents is clear, “Be aware. It can happen to anybody and if you’ve got concerns go to the authorities and speak to them, or go to the mosque if you are a Muslim and speak to them. They will help you.”
Mamamia previously wrote…
How does an ordinary little boy from an ordinary loving family become a terrorist?
That was the question asked in the critically-acclaimed British documentary My Son The Jihadi which was broadcast by Channel 10 last night.
Presented by The Project’s Carrie Bickmore and Waleed Aly, the documentary followed the story of Sally Evans and her son Thomas, who at just 21 years of age went from a pub-going electrician in Buckinghamshire, England, to an AlShabaab fighter in Somalia – plunging Sally into every mother’s worst nightmare.