Lockerbie disaster: Man accused of bombing Pan Am Flight 103 now in US custody | UK News

The man accused of making the bomb that blew up Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie in 1988 is now in US custody.

Abu Agila Mohammad Mas’ud Kheir al Marimi was said to be the “third conspirator” behind the attack.

The U.S. Department of Justice has confirmed Mas’ud is in custody and said he will make his first appearance in federal court in Washington, DC.

It was not immediately clear when he would make an appearance.

read more: Key question in U.S. arrest of man accused of Lockerbie bombing

Some 243 passengers and 16 crew were killed when a bomb planted on the airliner exploded at 38,000 feet.

Another 11 people were killed on the ground as debris fell on houses in the Lockerbie town of Dumfries and Galloway.

Libya claims responsibility for 1988 attacks
picture:
270 killed in attack

It remains the deadliest terror attack on British soil.

The only person to be convicted of the atrocity was Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi, who was sentenced to life in prison in 2001 and after being diagnosed with cancer Released on compassionate grounds in 2009. Died in 2012.

Scottish authorities said: “Families of those killed in the Lockerbie bombing have been informed that the suspect, Abu Aguila Mohamed Masoud Haile Marimi, is in US custody.

“Scottish prosecutors and police will continue this investigation, in cooperation with the UK government and US colleagues, with the sole aim of bringing to justice those who acted with al Megrahi.”

Abdul Basset Megrahi
picture:
Abdelbaset al Megrahi (centre) imprisoned for life

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In 2020, Masoud was charged by U.S. Attorney General William Barr as a third person involved in a terrorist attack.

At the time, he was said to be in Libya’s custody, and Mr Barr said US authorities would work “hand in hand” with their Scottish counterparts.

“There can be no doubt that no amount of time or distance will prevent the United States and our Scottish partners from seeking justice in this case,” Mr Barr said.

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