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TRIPOLI, May 24 (Reuters) - The father of the bomber who killed 22 concert-goers in an attack in Manchester told Reuters in the Libyan capital on Wednesday that he had last spoken to his son some five days ago, by phone, and "everything was normal".
Ramadan Abedi, who was detained by a Tripoli counter-terrorism force during the interview, said his son Salman had told his family that he was heading on pilgrimage to Mecca.
"I spoke to him about five days ago ... there was nothing wrong, everything was normal," Abedi said.
Abedi also said he was sure Salman had not been a member of Islamic State.
"Salman doesn't belong to any organisation," he said. "The family is a bit confused because Salman doesn't have this ideology, he doesn't hold these beliefs."
"We condemn these terrorist acts on civilians, innocent people."
(Reporting by Hani Amara; Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Kevin Liffey) ((Aidan.Lewis@thomsonreuters.com ; +216-29850352;))
Ramadan Abedi, who was detained by a Tripoli counter-terrorism force during the interview, said his son Salman had told his family that he was heading on pilgrimage to Mecca.
"I spoke to him about five days ago ... there was nothing wrong, everything was normal," Abedi said.
Abedi also said he was sure Salman had not been a member of Islamic State.
"Salman doesn't belong to any organisation," he said. "The family is a bit confused because Salman doesn't have this ideology, he doesn't hold these beliefs."
"We condemn these terrorist acts on civilians, innocent people."
(Reporting by Hani Amara; Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Kevin Liffey) ((Aidan.Lewis@thomsonreuters.com ; +216-29850352;))
