The grief-stricken mum of a victim of the Manchester Arena bombing is preparing to study counter-terrorism at university - because she's determined to understand what turns a person into a "monster".
Figen Murray lost her son Martyn Hett, 29, at the atrocity at the Ariana Grande concert when suicide bomber Salman Abedi, 22, detonated a device in a rucksack in a foyer area.
Now Ms Murray, 58, said she will start a year-long postgraduate course in counter-terrorism studies in September at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston to try to get inside the mind of her son's killer.
Speaking to Manchester Evening News , the mother-of-five said: "I need to understand how someone turns into a monster who goes and blows people up and themselves in the process.
"What makes them do such horrible things?
Manchester Arena fraudster loses house after claiming daughter injured in attack
"I don’t think it will give me any comfort and in fact it may be very painful, but it will give me a greater understanding of how, as a society, we can improve things.
"In the first few weeks after Martyn’s death I remember thinking that I needed to speak to young people.
"They are the future decision makers, the future law makers, maybe even the future terrorists.
"When I talk to groups now it is about the impact all this has had on us as a family but I would like to have that theoretical knowledge to be able to explain why these things happen as well."
Manchester Arena bomb: Families furious over extradition delay for killer's brother
Ms Murray has spoken to young people at schools and colleges about the power of peace after the May 2017 atrocity.
She's also campaigned for increased and mandatory security measures at all large public venues, including obligatory metal detectors and bag searches.
More than 1,300 people have signed a petition to the government for 'Martyn's Law', which Ms Murray says will change security at public venues.
The mum, of Stockport, Greater Manchester, was forced to quit her job as a psychotherapist following Martyn's death.
She added: "I used to be an introvert and anything more than five people would be a crowd, but it doesn’t faze me anymore.
"Martyn would laugh at me because he would be so surprised at what I am doing, but I know he would want to do the same if he was still here. I couldn't tell you why I am not angry, maybe part of me is, but I know getting angry is not going to bring Martyn or any of the others back.
Ariana Grande speaks out over fierce backlash to her headlining Manchester Pride
"I am literally just a mum who wants to stop other mothers and other families from going through what we have to go through. I am Martyn's mum now more than ever."
Ms Murray received a standing ovation last week after speaking at a summit set up by National Counter Terrorism Policing in response to the terror attacks of 2017.
Shane Smith, a former police officer who's now a lawyer at Slater and Gordon, which acts for several of the bereaved Manchester families, applauded her bravery.
He said: "Figen’s strength and courage and her hope in the face of this truly awful event which has devastated her family is humbling.
"We support her 100%."
Martyn, a popular PR manager and huge Coronation Street fan, was one of 22 people killed in the attack, and hundreds more were injured.
