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Lockerbie bomb legacy: 270 dead, no one in jail
Friday, 21 August 2009
When Pan AM Flight 103 exploded over the skies of Lockerbie on 21 December 1988, killing all 259 passengers and a further 11 people on the ground, Scotland's police forces were suddenly thrust into the centre of the largest terrorist investigation in Britain's history.
As far as the investigators were concerned, the hunt for those responsible finished 13 years later with the successful conviction of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, a former Libyan intelligence officer whom a jury at a special court in the Netherlands decided was the man who placed the bomb on the plane.
But while Britain and America have firmly stood by Megrahi's conviction, many people — including a number of British families who lost loved ones in the tragedy and the UN-appointed observer at the trial — were convinced the real culprits remained at large while an innocent man was jailed.
It took more than three years for western intelligence agencies to start blaming Libya and in that time a number of disparate terrorist groups had claimed responsibility, including Islamic Jihad, the little-known Guardians of the Islamic Revolution and even, allegedly, the Ulster Defence League.
But it was the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine — General Command (PFLP-GC), a small Palestinian terror network based in Lebanon and Syria with strong links to Iran, that investigators were most keen to concentrate on in the bombing's aftermath.
Two years before Lockerbie, PFLP-GC's Syrian leader Ahmed Jibril had called a press conference warning that there would be “no safety for any traveller on an Israeli or US airliner”.
Intelligence agencies took this to mean that Tehran had given Jibril the go-ahead to carry out a revenge attack for the shooting down of an Iranian Airlines passenger jet by the US warship Vincennes. Iran Air Flight 655 had been carrying 290 pilgrims to Mecca for the hajj but the captain of the USS Vincennes, who later received a medal from the US government, fired upon it believing it was a hostile Iranian jet fighter.
Two years later the very threat that Jibril had promised to carry out had happened. The PFLP-GC hastily called a press conference in Beirut denying any involvement but many believed Jibril's organisation carried out the attack on behalf of Iran in revenge.
Those who do not believe the official verdict say Libya was placed in the frame three years later because the US could not afford to alienate Iran and Syria during the build-up to the first Gulf War, which had been sparked by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.
By November 1991 two Libyan intelligence officers, Megrahi and Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah, were indicted for the bombing. The announcement sparked nearly a decade of negotiations between Britain and Libya's leader Muammar Gaddafi, who finally agreed to have his subjects tried in Dutch court under Scottish law in return for the UN lifting crippling sanctions on his nation. American and British relatives of those who died would finally face the men their governments accused of responsibility for the murders. But as the trial progressed many of the families began having doubts.
The case against Megrahi and Fhimah was largely based on the testimony of a Maltese shopkeeper, Tony Gauci, who said he had sold clothes to Megrahi, fragments of which were found around the Samsonite suitcase which allegedly carried the bomb. Megrahi was found guilty and sentenced to 27 years in a Scottish prison. Fhimah was acquitted.
As the trial closed, fresh evidence emerged that suggested the bomb could have been placed directly on to Flight 103 at Heathrow rather than at Malta where Megrahi was head of security for Libyan Arab Airlines.
In September 2001 Ray Manley, a former security guard at Heathrow, said in a sworn affidavit that he had told anti-terror police that one of Pan Am's luggage rooms had been broken into on the night of the bombing. Manley was surprised his evidence had not been presented in court. He stated: “It would have been possible for an unauthorised person to obtain tags for a particular Pan Am flight then, having broken the lock, to have introduced a tagged bag into the baggage build-up area.”
From his jail cell in Greenock prison, Megrahi continued to protest his innocence and launched appeal attempts. At first they were rejected out of hand but a four-year investigation by the Scottish Criminal Case Review Commission concluded last year that Gauci's evidence against Megrahi was questionable enough to warrant an appeal which would have gone ahead had Megrahi not dropped it this week.
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26 Comments
justice must be seen to be done...the fundamental principal of any societies justice system. McCaskill failed to preserve that principal.
He is a disgrace to Scotland.
Posted by bill blair | 07.09.09, 05:39 GMT
It was a matter for the Scottish Justice Minister and the Scottish Parliament over which the PM has no authority!
Posted by malachy mulligan | 03.09.09, 08:48 GMT
The Gulf War had no relevance to the plan to blame Libya which predated the Lockerbie bombing. The indictment was announced long after the Gulf War.
Fisk writes "the bag that contained the bomb was actually put onto the luggage carousel for checking in by this passengers Lebanese handler." Does he expect anybody to take him seriously? At what Airport do you put luggage on a carousel to check-in?
The "big lie" of Lockerbie is that the bomb arrived at Heathrow from Frankfurt. Look to Tehran and Damascus? Look to London and Washington.
Posted by porkylinda | 28.08.09, 11:01 GMT
There should a full independent inquiry into Lockerbie headed by an international panel. Of course this will never happen because the British government (not devolved Scottish one) don't want it. The US government doesn't want it. It would open up a can of worms. It is all very well for those to be angry at Scotland. Their anger should be directed at the British and US administrations. I recommend reading Trail of the Octopus by Lester K. Coleman and Donald Goddard to see how deep the rabbit-hole goes.
Posted by Alice, Wonderland | 25.08.09, 06:30 GMT
Wouldn't get too many votes in the US to support Scotlands compasion would it? It seems OK to invite terrorists to the white house. Not to mention Mr. Mitchells advice to put them in goverment and let all the murders out. I wonder if he would have given the same advice after the trade centre murders. Honesty it's not about votes Lose your riding with pride. Suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Stick to your principals.
Posted by fred needham | 25.08.09, 05:12 GMT
I am very proud to be Scottish at this moment and very proud of Kenny MacAskill that he stood his ground amid fierce opposition from the great power and voice of America and its prestigious leaders. I am proud to be a citizen of a country with a compassionate judicial system and I am so grateful that we have a Scottish Parliament that shows the world that we are a people with values. It is interesting that some of the Scottish people who lost loved ones in that horrendous Locherbie disaster are not convinced that Megrahi is guilty. Personally, I cannot understand people being outraged that a person (no matter who they are or what they've done) cannot be allowed to go home to die. Finally, I have never voted SNP, but when the election comes along I will be voting for them - because of their compassion and because of the very brave Kenny MacAskill. I would love the opportunity to meet him and shake his hand. He is, in my mind a much greater person than the famous leaders of the USA.
Posted by Elizabeth Duncan | 24.08.09, 17:36 GMT
270 dead. 8 years in prison.
Thats a week and a half inside for each person murdered.
Scotland should hang it's head in shame.
Posted by mk | 24.08.09, 11:20 GMT
If al-Megrahi is guilty (and that's a huge if), whether he showed compassion to his victims is not the issue here. Scotland has acted independently of international pressure and shown it has a backbone.
It has also shown that most fundamental of human values, more fundamental even than justice - compassion.
Where would we be without that ?
Posted by Yip | 24.08.09, 09:51 GMT
Well done Scotland for showing independence of thought, compassion in judgement, courage and backbone.
Posted by Yip | 24.08.09, 09:48 GMT
i will never return to scottland ......
Posted by tom sahlender | 24.08.09, 05:33 GMT
Lets send Ian Brady the child killer back to Scotland on compassionate grounds. He comes from Glasgow and his real name is Ian Scott, 'Brady' was the name he took on from one of his mothers lovers! What an embarassment eh! Libyan killer sent home! Tell the the families of his victims the reason why!
Posted by mike monahan | 23.08.09, 22:56 GMT
If ever a case deserved a Public Inquiry it is this one. After all, this is the UK's largest ever 'terrorist' atrocity.
A criminal case within the UK needs to proven beyond a reasonable doubt. There is a massive amount of reasonable doubt in this case. This was a very convienient conviction for a lot of people, and more importantly, a lot of countries.
I am glad that this bloke is free. In my own personal opinion, after looking at the case in detail, he is not guilty of the crime that he was convicted of. You should take the time to access the German Police evidence that Mr Fisk has referred to, it makes very interesting reading. If you find the word 'Libya' mentioned anywhere, please let me know where you find it. The 1989 police operation was called Autumn Leaves.
I will be even more glad when they prosecute the 'terrorists' who actually murdered all these people, no matter who or what they are. However, I will not be holding my breath until that happens.
Posted by Will Hawkes | 23.08.09, 11:49 GMT
Thanks for this article.
Megrahi's behaviour and his lack of remorse (held against him by those convinced of his guilt) is consistent with his innocence, as are Gaddafi's actions.
Gaddafi would not have sent him for trial if he had done it, would he? Gaddafi was blackmailed into paying compensation for the bombing, and the decision to do so must have been agonising for him.
As you point out, the evidence against Megrahi seems as dodgy as any dossier. He is one of a long list of ill-targeted scapegoats for atrocities demanded by American public opinion. Rich considering their funding of the IRA, ironically only ended by 9-11.
Each time I hear Megrahi called "the Lockerbie Bomber", I correct that to "the Lockerbie Scapegoat".
Though I am pleased he has been released, I am disappointed that "reasonable doubt" as to his guilt was not officially acknowledgedby the Scottish government: perhaps it could not be for reasons of due process.
Posted by Skeptician | 23.08.09, 10:42 GMT
Scotland the Naive.
Posted by lh | 23.08.09, 02:55 GMT
Something dodgy about the whole thing; leave it !
Posted by Malachy McAnespie | 22.08.09, 12:23 GMT
Robert Fisk article is fantastic. At last some truth on the Lockerbie subject! Well done BT for publishing this.
Posted by OK Computer | 22.08.09, 10:15 GMT
Wow @ Truthseeker's comment.
Posted by Wow and behold | 22.08.09, 09:42 GMT
Linydy's article = Bandwagon. Jumping.
Posted by All A Bored | 22.08.09, 09:41 GMT
Does anyone think that this man was purely released on compassionate grounds?Given that Britain and the USA have now vast interests in the former pariah state of Libya.That country is awash with British & US businessmen and agents tapping into Libya's vast oil reserves. What better way to cement this recent business relationship than to release an infamous prisoner to them on a feast day in the country (bible readers may see something familiar there). And there you go, the new clients & hosts are happy and will give more cooperation to the investors, the US doesnt loose face and gives its 'condemnation' of the act while still seeming to support the US victims familes. As Del Boy would say, "everyones a winner". It's all business. Something to think about.
Posted by In The Name Of The Fada | 21.08.09, 09:04 GMT
Anyone wanting to know the truth about Lockerbie should read 'Trail of the Octopus - From Beirut to Lockerbie' by Donald Goddard and Lester Coleman. Of course it is a book that is hard to get because it was banned. But you can find copies online. Coleman had been ordered to spy on the DEA in Cyprus which, along with the CIA, was running a series of "controlled deliveries" of Lebanese heroin through the airports of Frankfurt and London en route to America. Coleman discovered that security of this "sting" operation had been breached and warned the American Embassy that a disaster was waiting to happen. It was ignored. Seven months later, Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie. Among the dead was a DEA courier. Over the last four years Washington has ensured that the blame for the bombing rests with Libyan terrorists.
Posted by TruthSeeker | 21.08.09, 07:06 GMT
26 Comments