Prosecutors ‘closing in’ on two Lockerbie suspects in Libya

Prosecutors are ‘closing in’ on two Libyans suspected of being involved in the Lockerbie bombing 30 years ago

  • Passenger jet bombing in 1988 killed 259 on plane and 11 in Scottish town
  • Abdel Basset al-Megrahi was jailed for life in 2001 but others escaped justice 
  • Two others thought to be involved could finally be questioned in Libya

Prosecutors are closing in on two Libyans suspected of being involved in the Lockerbie bombing, it emerged today.

US and Scottish investigators are hopeful they will get permission to interview Abdullah al-Senussi – believed to have been behind the atrocity – and Abu Agila Mas’ud, the bombmaker. 

Both men are currently held in a Libyan prison.

Former Libyan intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi is set to be questioned by UK authorities over the Lockerbie bombing

Former Libyan intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi, left in custody in 2014, and right, in earlier years, is set to be questioned by UK authorities over the Lockerbie bombing

British authorities are close to being able to question two men suspected of involvement in the Lockerbie bombing, it emerged today

British authorities are close to being able to question two men suspected of involvement in the Lockerbie bombing, it emerged today

Improved relations between the UK and the UK could now see both men questioned by British authorities, The Times reported today.  

A Pan Am jumbo jet exploded over Lockerbie on route from London to New York on December 21, 1988. All 259 people on board were killed. Another 11 people were killed on the ground. It is the deadliest ever militant attack in Britain.

Libyan intelligence officer Abdel Basset al-Megrahi was jailed for life in 2001 after being found guilty of the attack, in association with others who were never identified. Megrahi was later released because he was suffering from cancer.

In 2003, Muammar Gaddafi accepted Libya’s responsibility for the bombing and paid compensation to the victims’ families but he did not admit to personally ordering the attack.

All 259 people on board were killed when the bomb went off on the passenger jet in 1988. Another 11 people were killed on the ground.

All 259 people on board were killed when the bomb went off on the passenger jet in 1988. Another 11 people were killed on the ground.

Today’s development comes after Fayez al-Sarraj, the country’s UN-backed prime minister, said his government is willing to extradite Hashem Abedi, wanted for questioning in Britain after the attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester in which 22 people were killed.

Hashem’s brother, Salman Ramadan Abedi, was the suicide bomber who carried out the Manchester attack.

The assurances have given police involved in the Lockerbie investigation encouragement, according to the newspaper.

It said officers described Libya’s response to diplomatic approaches as “positive and constructive”.

Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi was the one person convicted for the bombing. He died in May 2012.

Hashim Abedi, the brother of Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi, could also be extradited to the UK amid an improvement in relations between the UK and Libya

Hashim Abedi, the brother of Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi, could also be extradited to the UK amid an improvement in relations between the UK and Libya

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk