The charge comes on the 32nd anniversary of the bombing. In announcing the new charges, Barr noted that “the Lockerbie bombing remains the deadliest single terrorist attack in the history of the United Kingdom, and the second deadliest terrorist attack in American history” after 9/11.
Although Libya took responsibility for the bombing, a documentary from 2018 “claims to have uncovered fresh evidence that Iran, not Libya, ordered the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie in December 1988,” while an Israeli security official said it was the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a Marxist group that works hand-in-glove with Islamic jihadis.
Barr is taking the route that the bombing was a hit ordered by the late leader of Libya, Muammar al-Gaddafi.
Barr credited the breakthrough to intelligence from the current Libyan government, which replaced the toppled Muammar al-Gaddafi regime.
Barr is expected to leave office this week.
“US unveils new charges against suspect in 1988 Lockerbie bombing,” by Ed Pilkington, Guardian, December 21, 2020:
A Libyan man accused of being the bomb-maker behind the terrorist attack that blew up Pan Am Flight 103 over the Scottish town of Lockerbie in 1988 has been charged in a US court for his alleged role in the murder of 270 people.
Mohammed Abouagela Masud was charged on the 32nd anniversary of the bombing, which took place on 21 December 1988, killing all 259 people on the plane as well as 11 Lockerbie residents on the ground. Some 190 of the victims were American.
Announcing the charges in Washington DC, William Barr said: “On this day 32 years ago a bomb destroyed Pan Am flight 103 as it flew 31,000ft over Lockerbie, Scotland. The Lockerbie bombing remains the deadliest single terrorist attack in the history of the United Kingdom, and the second deadliest terrorist attack in American history” after 9/11.
The attorney general went on: “Let there be no mistake, no matter of time and distance will stop the United States and our Scottish partners from pursuing justice in this case.”
The new charges represent the third Libyan to have prosecuted over the past 30 years in relation to the Lockerbie bombing. In November 1991, two intelligence officials – Abdel Baset al-Megrahi and Lamen Khalifa Fhimah – were charged.
They were put on trial eight years later. Megrahi received a life sentence which he served until his release in 2009, and Fhimah was acquitted.
In the new criminal complaint released on Monday, Masud is charged with having built the bomb that blew up the aircraft. He is described as having been one of the top bomb-makers for the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi….
“DOJ announces charges against accused Lockerbie bombmaker, a ‘hit man’ for Qaddafi,” by Greg Palkot, Fox News, December 21, 2020:
Attorney General William Barr announced the indictment of the suspected maker of the bomb that brought down Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.
Monday marks 32 years since the terror attack, which left 270 people dead, including 190 Americans, among them students and service members.
“Let there be no mistake: no amount of time or distance will stop the United States, and its partners in Scotland, from pursuing justice in this case,” Barr told reporters.
Prior to the announcement, a top Libyan government official confirmed to Fox News the reputed bomber is in custody in Libya, has been interrogated, charged and found guilty of several “heinous crimes” involving explosives committed by the former regime of Muammar al-Gaddafi.
Mohammed Ali Abdallah, adviser to the current US-recognized Tripoli-based Libyan government, described Masud during a Zoom interview as a “very, very evil man” – a “hit man” for Gaddafi who was “called on a lot regarding timed bombings.”…
Pray Hard says
Before it’s all over, they’ll be blaming it on either white supremacists or Jews because it just couldn’t have been moslems.
Grace says
Does this nonsense taking up the oxygen in the room allow the law to escape paying attention to the most pressing issue right now. The rigged election and displacing our duly elected president . The Biden crime family scandal and the forward march of China over American freedom ? While we fiddle around with yesterday our future is being compromised . If the election is allowed to stand and Biden is president How do we explain to our children that a rigged election elected a crook for a president and the most sacred branch of our justice system, the Revered Supreme Court did nothing to stop it.? Shred the Constitution and The Bill of Rights, Crown Roberts. If we allow this law is dead.
Prince Eugene says
AG Barr whose only accomplishments are oversight of the impeachment and post-election dereliction of duty to the best President in our lifetime, is grasping for anything to put on his pitiful résumé: charged a third Libyan for the 1991 Lockerbie bombing. smh
Walter Sieruk says
Maybe now mostly forgotten by most people was that vicious and murderous jihad bombing on December 21,1988 of that Pam Am flight 103, Lockerbie bombing disaster. Iran might have had a part in that murderous affront. With those malicious and spite-filled mullahs and other tyrants in power in Iran with their malice-filled Islamic hate for Americans and America. Those malice-filled mullahs and ayatollahs as well as other sinister and insidious fiends in control of Iran with their destructive intentions. This information has been given by a former Revolutionary Guard member, Reza Kahlili, for Iran who defected to the United States. This information about Iran’s possible involvement in that Pam Am bombing is from his book, which is entitled A TIME TO BETRAY pages 291,292, 294, 296.
Lee says
Just like hunter Biden hardisk case, Barr keeps the evidences for so long.
Ugly Sid says
Barr displayed curious loyalties in his prior service as AG. Shooting half the Weaver family spoke poorly of his leadership. A double homicide and a maiming should warrant more than four guys losing fifteen days pay. And it gave the green light to Janet Reno’s career masterpiece at Waco.
Ellena Patti Pickerd says
Agree!
jim says
it would seem that he is just distracting attention away from the election fraud committed against the president and republican candidates. And he never got around to bringing charges against most of the politicians and bureaucrats who carried on a soft coup against the president for over 4 years. Shame on him. He is being deBarred, good riddance.
Infidel says
Libya had already paid the price for this when they took full responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing and compensated the victims. That’s why I though it was a bad idea to topple Gaddafi during the Arab Spring.
If the new charges are directed against either Iran or the PFLP, it’s fair. If it’s against Libyans, it’s beating a dead horse. The Libyan involvement – and indemnity – is water under the bridge
Barr should instead have done his job and looked into election integrity issues around Dominion machines and polling stations in Phili, Detroit, Atlanta, Phoenix and Vegas.
gravenimage says
William Barr announces new charges in 1988 Lockerbie jihad bombing that killed 270
…………
Glad this Jihad horror has not been forgotten.
Patti Pickerd says
It never will be, google Lockerbie monument & see the memorial garden, wall etc. Don’t know if you remember the young english girl who got a cancelled seat. All those terrorists need, well here I plead the 5th!
Raja says
It is a pleasant surprise to know that some administration is keeping a track of heinous crimes committed on its citizens. They should show the same zeal for getting the Muslim rape gangs behind the bars in the UK. The present dispensation has hardly shown any inclination to bring the rape gangs criminals to book.
Manuele Lui says
Why continue with this? It’s been 32 fucken years. IT IS THE NOW THAT MATTERS. IT sets focus for the future of America. America is under siege from the threat of Communism, Socialism, Marxism, Antifa & BLM & FAT Bill Barr wasted Taxpayer money on this. The 2020 Election was the MOST CORRUPTED IN HISTORY OF THE USA & FAT Bill Barr saw nothing in there that warrants any investigation. FAT BILL BAR will go down in history as AG, a man who could correct the wrong (CORRUPTION) that been done TO THE INTEGRITY of US ELECTION.
Infidel says
My point, precisely! And as I pointed out above, Libya did indemnify the US for that: it was a part of the terms that led to the normalization of relations b/w Libya and western countries (before Hillary Clinton decided to reward Libya by toppling Gaddafi and enabling his lynching). Yeah, they could go after the PFLP and Iran, but that should be way down in the priority stack. I agree w/ you: Barr and Durham have been a big disappointment