Benghazi Security Chief: Initial Findings Point to Father Killing His Seven Children Before Taking His Own Life; Probe Ongoing Under Prosecutor’s Supervision
Libya — Major General Saleh Al-Huwaidi, Director of Greater Benghazi Security, issued a clarifying statement—alongside Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief Ahmed Al-Shamikh—regarding the incident recorded on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in which seven children were found dead inside a vehicle in the Al-Hawari area of Benghazi, next to the body of their father, Hassan Khairallah Al-Zawi.
Summary of the incident
Police received a report of a parked vehicle in Al-Hawari containing the bodies of children and a man in his fifties. Teams from the Ministry of Interior—represented by the CID and the Benghazi Security Directorate—immediately secured the scene and notified the Public Prosecution. The chief prosecutor attended, and the Forensic Evidence Department began its technical examination.
Scene examination and number of victims
According to the statement, six children were found inside the passenger cabin and a seventh child in the rear luggage compartment, in addition to the father’s body. The preliminary examination indicated that all the children were shot in the head, except for the child found in the trunk, who showed signs of torture. An odor detected at the rear of the vehicle suggested the child in the trunk had been there for several hours, possibly since the previous day.
Initial findings and identification of the victims
Early forensic indicators point to the father having shot his children before killing himself with a gunshot to the head. The children were identified as Mayar, Mohammed, Abdulrahim, Khairallah, Lamar, Abdulrahman, and Ahmed, aged 5 to 13; three were wearing school uniforms. Investigators also noted seven spent shell casings, matching the number of children shot inside the vehicle.
Investigation track and seized evidence
The Public Prosecution has begun questioning the deceased’s relatives, wives, and family members. Authorities seized CCTV recordings from routes near the family home, relevant mobile phones, and fingerprints from the handgun and the vehicle. Initial matches indicate the deceased’s fingerprints, with further verification ongoing using modern forensic systems at the CID. One of the wives confirmed the seized handgun belonged to her husband.
Initial social background
The statement said the deceased had been living with his children but without his wives due to family disputes. Prior complaints of violence involving the eldest son were on record; the boy appears to have died from torture and was placed in the trunk. Major General Al-Huwaidi stressed these are preliminary findings subject to the Prosecutor General’s inquiries.
Call for accuracy and reliance on official sources
The Security Directorate cautioned against circulating false information that could mislead public opinion and undermine security, urging citizens to rely on official sources. The authorities pledged transparency and said the public would be updated on any developments in this case and others.
Coordination with the Public Prosecution and an imminent statement
Al-Huwaidi noted that the Interior Ministry’s statement runs in parallel with the Public Prosecution’s final investigation, and that a detailed prosecutorial communiqué will be issued in the coming hours to conclude the case in line with the final results. He affirmed that all agencies are moving in one direction: to establish the truth and apply the law.
A heinous crime
The statement described the incident as “heinous,” offered condolences for the innocent children, and confirmed ongoing coordination with relevant bodies to present the full truth and the motive once judicially established.
