The father of a Brighton teenager killed in Syria may travel to the war-torn country to find his other two sons.
As exclusively revealed in The Argus last week, former Longhill High School pupil Abdullah Deghayes, has died amid the conflict there.
The 18-year-old is the nephew of Brighton man Omar Deghayes, who was once held in Guantanamo Bay, Abdullah’s father Abubaker Deghayes said he still has two other sons, Amer and Jaffar, in Syria.
He said Abdullah’s twin, Abdul, and his sister Aisha remain in the UK. Mr Deghayes told The Argus his 20-year-old son Amer has also been injured in Syria.
Speaking yesterday at his home in Arundel Road East, in Saltdean, Mr Deghayes said: “Amer is injured in Syria and we are still trying to work out what to do.”
Asked if he might travel there, he agreed this was a possibility.
“We are struggling, ” he said. “Amer’s twin brother is grieving.”
Abdullah’s aunt, who also lives in Saltdean, added: “We are just trying to support the family.” Jade Marsh, a friend of Abdullah, told The Argus: “He had his whole life ahead of him, he was such a loving, caring and kind boy.
“Some people may not have seen the loving side of Abdullah but he was the sweetest boy. My thoughts are with his twin brother Abdul and his family.”
Speaking to The Times, Abdullah’s mother Einas Abulsayen told how his body had been buried close to sea in accordance with Muslim custom.
She said the boys, Abdullah, Amer and Jaffar, 16, did not have her permission to travel to Syria. She told how Abdullah gave her a cuddle before leaving.
“I didn’t know that was the last cuddle until now, ” she said.
Previously the boys’ father had published a picture which seems to show Abdullah’s body on his Facebook page.
Yesterday he added more pictures of his sons in happier times. Brighton and Hove City Col- lege, where Jaffar studied, yes- terday said it was “under- standably concerned” for his safety.
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