Andy Murray breaks silence on Dunblane massacre
Tennis star reveals he knew gunman Thomas Hamilton
Murray was a fourth-grader when Hamilton murdered 16 kindergarten students and their teacher at his school in Dunblane
Tennis star Andy Murray has revealed he knew the man who shot 16 children and their teacher dead at his primary school in the 1990s.
Murray, who grew up in Dunblane, was present during the attack at his school but normally refuses to speak about his experiences that day.
However, in a new interview with the BBC, Murray said that he wanted to speak out about the massacre in the hope that it would help others who have been affected by gun violence.
"I was in the playground when it happened," Murray said. "I saw the gunman come into the school and I heard the gunshots. It was a terrible day and I will never forget it."
Murray said that he knew the gunman, Thomas Hamilton, because Hamilton was a member of the local tennis club.
"He was a strange guy," Murray said. "He was always hanging around the club and he would often talk to the kids. I remember him talking to me about tennis and asking me if I wanted to be a professional player."
Murray said that he does not know why Hamilton carried out the massacre, but he believes that the gunman was motivated by a desire for revenge.
"I think he was angry at the world," Murray said. "He was a loner and he did not have any friends. I think he felt like he had been rejected by society and he wanted to take his anger out on the children."
Murray said that he hopes that his story will help others who have been affected by gun violence.
"I know that it is difficult to talk about these things," Murray said. "But I think it is important to speak out and to let people know that they are not alone."
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