Midlands mum who lost family in Tunisia terror attack criticises hotel

Credit: ITV News.

A Black Country mother who lost three members of her family in a terrorist attack at a Tunisian hotel has criticised the owner for re-opening under a new name.

Suzanne Evans, from Wednesbury, says the decision to reopen the Imperial Marhaba hotel under its new name Kantaoui Bay is “hurtful.”

The hotel has just re-launched after receiving a £1.9 million revamp, leaving no traces of the atrocity that claimed 38 lives in total.

Suzanne’s son Joel Richards, 19, her father Patrick Evans, 78, and her brother Adrian Evans, 44, died at the hotel in June 2015.

Her younger son Owen, who was 16 at the time, survived the massacre and was honoured with a Pride of Birmingham Award for his courage and compassion.

They were among 30 British holidaymakers murdered by gunman Seifeddine Rezgui.

Owen Richards and his mum Suzanne Richards at the Royal Courts of Justice in London Credit: PA.

Inquests into the deaths of 30 British tourists took place in February at the Royal Courts of Justice in London with the coroner ruling that they were all ‘unlawfully killed.’

On Monday it was reported that 33 people are to stand trial in Tunisia for the failings in the security services’ response to the attack.

Those facing trial on May 26 include six members of the Tunisian security forces, charged with “not assisting people in danger.”

Those facing trial on May 26 include six members of the Tunisian security forces, charged with “not assisting people in danger.” Credit: ITV News.

A report commissioned after the shooting revealed that some police units deliberately delayed their arrival at the scene.

One senior officer fainted and another fled in a boat but it is not yet known who the defendants are, or what they are accused of.

The Foreign Office still advises British tourists against all but essential travel to the vast majority of the country, and against all travel to the rest, despite calls from Tunisian authorities for it to be lifted.

Families said tourists were told it was safe to travel to Tunisia after a terror attack in the country's Bardo National Museum. Credit: PA.

Solicitor Sally Adey, 57, from Birmingham lost her life in the attack at the Bardo National Museum in capital city Tunis three months earlier.

As well as Suzanne’s family, other fatalities at Sousse included former Birmingham City FC player Dennis Thwaites, 70, and his wife Elaine, 69, and Tamworth mum Sue Davey, 44.