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Man accused of making Lockerbie bomb appears in US court

A US court has acquitted the man accused of setting off the bomb that destroyed Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988.

Abu Agila Mohammad Mas’ud Kheir al Marimi was present in person at Washington DC’s federal courthouse.

He was dressed in a green jumpsuit and walked slowly to court. He was not invited for a plea.

The public gallery featured around 20 relatives of victims of the bombing.

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A widow and her daughter were among them, as was a man and his father who had lost his mother.

These were just a few of the many families that were left broken by the worst terror attack in British History.

Sky News’ Stephanie Bernstein said that she has been “pursuing justice” for 34 years.

“My seven-year-old daughter died when my husband was killed… the United States government will take care of its citizens in death and life… we are grateful to the Biden administration.”

Dr Jim Swire, who was devastated by the loss of his daughter Flora to the bombings, expressed hope that Mas’ud would tell the families in mourning more about the events.

“Hopefully, he will tell us how it was done and help to discover the truth about this terrible, horrible business.”

The proceedings lasted less than an hour and opened the door to a second detention hearing on December 27th.

Mas’ud stated, through federal attorneys assigned to him that he was not yet able to assign his legal counsel. He was given one week to complete the assignment and will continue to be in custody.

Image All 243 passengers and 16 crew members onboard the plane died

Continue reading:

Questions after US arrest of man accused in Lockerbie bombing


Bomb found in suitcase

Prosecutors have long sought Mas’ud as they suspect him of being the “third person” responsible for the December 34th downing of an American plane over Lockerbie.

A bomb explosion occurred at 31,000 feet, just half an hour into the 747 Jumbo’s transatlantic flight from London Heathrow airport to New York’s JFK Airport.

All 243 passengers and 16 crew members onboard the plane died. 11 people were also killed when debris fell onto their homes in Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway.

An extensive and tedious investigation covered 845 miles of the Scottish countryside in search for any debris. The bomb was found in a cassette player, wrapped in clothing and put inside a suitcase.

Two former members of the intelligence service were taken into custody and extradited to Libya after the government claimed control in 2003.

Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah escaped. Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi, a defendant, was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2012.

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Suspect Lockerbie bomb maker arrested


Investigators have always suspected third-man

Megrahi was twice unsuccessful in his bid to have his conviction overturned. He was released on compassionate grounds in 2009, and died in Libya in 2012.

Investigators suspected that a third man was involved in the plot.

Mas’ud was arrested in Libya in 2011 following the overthrow Muammar Gaddafi’s leader.

He is reported to have said that the Lockerbie bomb-maker told him in Libya the following year.

The basis of the US Department of Justice case against him in 2012 was based on his apparent confession. It was released in 2020.

It is not known how Mas’ud came from Libya to America.

Image Abu Agila Mohammad Mas’ud Kheir al-Marimi under US custody


The top lawyer from Scotland will meet with US officials

Bombing is still the most deadly terrorist attack in British history. 21 people were killed.

The news that Masud is in the US custody has been welcomed by Scotland’s top lawyer.

Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC stated that “the steps taken by the US justice officials are significant and progress towards a legally breakthrough is welcome by Scottish prosecutors, and police.”

“The tragic events that occurred in December 1988 have brought together the USA and Scotland in deep loss. We are determined to bring all those responsible before a court.”

She said that the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service have maintained a case team for this investigation for more than twenty years. This team brings together a variety of prosecutorial expertise in counterterrorism, major crime investigations and forensic analysis.

Ms Bain stated that officials from the US and Scotland will continue to investigate the matter, with the sole purpose of bringing to justice those who acted in concert with al Megrahi.

She said she would meet with American officials next week to discuss this case.

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