Connect with us

News

US Court Hears Case of Lockerbie Bombing Suspect Amid Alleged Confession

Attorneys representing the Libyan individual are seeking to have an alleged admission of involvement in the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 excluded from consideration as evidence in any potential future proceedings.

In a US courtroom, a Libyan national, Abu Agila Mohammed Mas'ud Kheir Al-Marimi, also known as Masud, has appeared to challenge the admissibility of his alleged confession in connection with the Lockerbie bombing.

Rescue workers stand next to the wreckage of Pan Am flight 103 in Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway in December 1988.
All 259 passengers and crew on board and 11 people on the ground died in the bombing over Lockerbie in December 1988

According to the US Department of Justice, Masud purportedly admitted to participating in the 1988 attack on Pan Am Flight 103 during an interrogation at a Libyan detention facility in 2012.

Masud's defense team contends that the confession was coerced and therefore should not be used as evidence in his upcoming trial in Washington DC.

Masud denies any involvement in the construction of the bomb that destroyed the American aircraft over Lockerbie, Scotland, on December 21, 1988, resulting in the deaths of 270 people.

On Wednesday, Masud, wearing a prison uniform and sporting a short grey beard, attended a hearing at the District Court for the District of Columbia, presided over by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich.

Family members of the victims and representatives from Scottish law enforcement, who have collaborated with their US counterparts on the investigation, were also present in the courtroom.

To accommodate individuals connected to the case who could not attend in person, remote viewing facilities were established in four locations: three in the United States and one in the United Kingdom.

The details of Masud's alleged confession were initially made public in 2020, following the release of the FBI's criminal complaint against him.

It is alleged that Masud confessed to carrying out the 1986 bombing of the LaBelle Discotheque in West Berlin, which resulted in the deaths of three people, including two American servicemen.

Masud is also said to have admitted to transporting a bomb hidden in a suitcase from Libya to Malta in December 1988, acting on the orders of senior Libyan intelligence officials.

According to the confession, Masud allegedly met with two accomplices, Abdulbaset Al Megrahi, a Libyan agent previously convicted of the bombing, and Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah, a former Libyan Arab Airline official who was acquitted by a Scottish court.

The alleged confession states that Masud set the bomb's timer to detonate 11 hours later, purchased clothing to pack into the suitcase, and then handed it over to Fhimah at Luqa airport in Malta.

Fhimah allegedly placed the unaccompanied bag on a conveyor belt, introducing it into the international baggage system, where it was tagged for a flight to the United States.

The bomb exploded on the night of December 21, 1988, in the forward hold of Pan Am 103, killing all 259 people on board and 11 residents of Lockerbie when the wreckage crashed into their homes.

A mugshot of Abu Agila Mas'ud Kheir Al-Marimi. He has a white beard and is staring straight ahead. He is wearing a prison overall of some form.
Abu Agila Mas'ud Kheir Al-Marimi has been in custody since December 2022

Masud is said to have claimed that he was later commended in person by the late Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi for carrying out a "great national duty" against the Americans.

In pre-hearing court documents, Masud alleged that his confession was false and had been extracted from him by three masked men who threatened him and his family.

The US government countered that Masud had provided a detailed and corroborated account of his involvement in the bombing, which was supported by other evidence.

At the start of the hearing, FBI Special Agent Todd Tunstall informed the court that the alleged confession was initially obtained by Scottish investigators, who shared a copy with US authorities in 2017.

Abdelbaset Ali Mohamed al-Megrahi, wearing a blue suit over a white shirt and a floral tie, with two security officers in black leather jackets and berets.
Abdelbaset Ali Mohamed al-Megrahi, centre, is the only person to have been convicted in connection with the Lockerbie bombing

In 2020, FBI agents and Police Scotland officers interviewed the Libyan official who had questioned Masud in 2012, referred to as "Jamal" in court proceedings.

Agent Tunstall stated that the confession's contents were supported by evidence from the crime scene, forensic analysis, and immigration and flight records.

"Jamal" reported that he had attempted to record Masud's statement using a phone, but the recording was lost.

Masud has been in US custody since 2022, when he was handed over to FBI agents who traveled to Libya to apprehend him.

The two-day hearing is expected to conclude with a decision from Judge Friedrich at a later date.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Prince Andrew’s BBC Interview Contrasted with New Insights from Epstein Emails

The Epstein files’ recent release has led to renewed examination of statements made by Prince Andrew in 2019.

The recent release of the Epstein files has prompted a re-examination of statements made by Prince Andrew during a 2019 BBC Newsnight interview, which may now be subject to renewed scrutiny.

A review of the interview by BBC journalists Sean Coughlan and Sarah Campbell has been conducted, comparing Prince Andrew's responses with emails allegedly exchanged by the prince, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is under increasing pressure from US authorities and the family of Virginia Giuffre, who has made prominent allegations against him, to provide testimony in the US regarding his connection to Jeffrey Epstein.

Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted financier, was found guilty in 2008 of soliciting prostitution from a minor and took his own life in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges.

Continue Reading

News

Serie A to air on BBC with live coverage of Scottish matches

A new multi-game rights deal has enabled the BBC to broadcast live coverage of matches featuring several Scotland internationals, including Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Lewis Ferguson, Che Adams, Lennon Miller, Kieron Bowie, and Josh Doig, starting this Sunday.

A number of Scottish players, including Che Adams, Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Lennon Miller, and Lewis Ferguson, are currently competing in Italy's top division, Serie A.

The upcoming Serie A match between Torino and Bologna will be a notable fixture, featuring several Scottish players.

The match is scheduled to take place on Sunday, 15 February, with a kick-off time of 17:00 GMT, at a venue that will be announced.

Fans can catch the live coverage of the match on BBC Alba, starting from 16:50.

A growing list of Scottish players, including Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Lewis Ferguson, Che Adams, Lennon Miller, Josh Doig, and Kieron Bowie, are making a name for themselves in Serie A.

With a record number of Scots playing in Italy's top flight, the BBC is now providing live coverage of their matches, allowing fans to follow their favorite players.

As part of a new package, the BBC will broadcast eight live Serie A matches, showcasing the talents of Scottish players as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup.

The first match to be broadcast on BBC Alba will be the encounter between Torino, featuring striker Che Adams, and Bologna, featuring midfielder Lewis Ferguson, on Sunday, with a 17:00 GMT kick-off.

Bologna will be looking to bounce back from five consecutive domestic defeats, despite recent impressive results in the Europa League and against Celtic.

During their recent run, Bologna drew 2-2 with Celtic and secured a 3-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League.

Torino, on the other hand, has only managed one win in their last five outings but will be seeking to build on their recent 2-2 draw against Fiorentina.

Scotland's Nations League campaign is set to begin in Slovenia.

Clarke has confirmed that Barnes will not be making a switch to Scotland.

Scotland is scheduled to face Switzerland in the Nations League.

Future BBC Alba broadcasts will feature matches involving Napoli's Scottish duo, Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour, who is nearing a return from injury, as well as Lennon Miller's Udinese, Josh Doig's Sassuolo, and Kieron Bowie's Hellas Verona.

The number of Scottish players in Serie A has reached a record high, with the likes of Liam Henderson, who has played for several Italian clubs, now competing in Serie B.

Further details of the Serie A matches to be broadcast on BBC Alba will be announced in the coming weeks.

Margaret Cameron, director of content at BBC Alba, expressed her excitement about the opportunity for Scottish fans to watch their favorite players in action, free-to-air, ahead of the World Cup.

Presenter Alex O'Henley is looking forward to hosting the coverage of what he describes as a "golden era" for Scottish players in Italy.

With the World Cup approaching, O'Henley believes it's an exciting time for Scottish fans to follow the fortunes of their players in Italy.

Kieron Bowie made his debut for Verona against Pisa.

Che Adams, who was born in Leicester, has established himself as a key player for Scotland, earning 45 caps and scoring 11 goals since switching allegiances in 2021.

This season, Adams has scored six goals in 26 appearances for Torino, who currently sit 13th in the Serie A table.

Kieron Bowie, who began his career with Raith Rovers, has risen to prominence with Hibernian, scoring nine goals in 30 appearances before joining Hellas Verona in January.

Bowie made his debut for Verona in a 0-0 draw against Pisa, earning his first start for the club.

Josh Doig, who started his career with Hibernian, has become a regular player in Serie A, first with Verona and now with Sassuolo, earning one cap for Scotland.

Doig has made 24 appearances, including 20 starts, for Sassuolo this season.

Lewis Ferguson, who began his career with Hamilton Academical, has become a key player for Bologna, earning 21 caps for Scotland and leading his team to a Coppa Italia final win over AC Milan.

Ferguson has made 29 appearances, including 21 starts, for Bologna this season, helping the team to eighth place in the table.

Billy Gilmour, who started his career with Rangers, has played for several clubs, including Chelsea and Norwich City, before joining Napoli in 2024, where he won his first league title.

Gilmour has been limited to 12 appearances, including six starts, this season due to injury, but is nearing a return to action.

Scott McTominay, who came through Manchester United's youth ranks, has become a key player for Napoli, earning 67 caps for Scotland and scoring 14 goals, including a notable overhead kick against Denmark.

McTominay has made 34 appearances for Napoli this season, scoring 10 goals and helping the team to a strong position in the table.

Lennon Miller, who began his career with Motherwell, has made a promising start to his career, earning four caps for Scotland and joining Udinese in August.

Miller has made 14 appearances, including six starts, for Udinese this season.

Fans can stay up-to-date with their favorite clubs through BBC Sport.

Continue Reading

News

GB men’s curling team suffers upset defeat to Italy

At the 2026 Winter Olympics, Great Britain’s men’s curling team mounted a comeback against Italy following a disappointing beginning, ultimately falling short in their inaugural match.

Despite a valiant comeback, Team GB ultimately fell short as Italy held their composure to secure the win in the final end.

A dismal start to the match proved costly for Team GB's men, as they suffered their first defeat of the Winter Olympics at the hands of host nation Italy, despite a spirited fightback in the packed Cortina Curling Stadium.

Following victories in their first two matches, including a win over the Swedish rink that beat them in the gold-medal match four years ago, Team GB entered their second high-profile encounter in as many days in a confident position.

However, a disastrous opening end, in which Italy stole four points, left Team GB trailing and facing an uphill battle in front of a boisterous home crowd.

The British team, currently ranked number one in the world, gradually regained their footing and managed to level the score by the ninth end.

Ultimately, Italy maintained their composure in the final end to emerge victorious, winning 9-7 and adding Team GB to their list of scalps, which already included the Swedes.

"We had to dig deep and play some solid curling, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough to get us over the line," Team GB lead Hammy McMillan said in an interview with BBC Sport.

With seven wins from nine round-robin matches guaranteeing a spot in the semi-finals, Team GB remains in a strong position, although fewer wins may still be sufficient to advance.

The women's team is set to take to the ice next, facing South Korea in their second match at 13:05 GMT, while the men will return to action on Saturday against the Czech Republic at the same time.

Team GB is at the forefront of curling's technological advancements.

Embracing what sets you apart can be a powerful asset, according to some athletes.

A daily guide to the Winter Olympics is available for those looking to stay up-to-date with the action.

The looks of shock on the faces of Team GB's curlers told the story of a disastrous opening end.

With a stone in play, Mouat attempted a risky shot in an effort to claim two points, but it backfired, resulting in none of Team GB's stones in the house and four Italian stones in position.

However, the Scottish quartet, ranked number one in the world, quickly regained their composure and got back to their game.

The teams exchanged singles before a impressive final throw by Mouat, aided by a measurement to determine which stone was closest to the button, allowed Team GB to claim two points and narrow the gap to 5-3.

Another excellent team effort, which included a well-judged throw by Mouat, a solid sweep by Hammy McMillan and Bobby Lammie, and Grant Hardie's strategic expertise, forced Italy to concede a point in the fourth end, reducing the deficit to a single point at the break.

Italy blanked the sixth end and added two points in the seventh to rebuild their lead, but Team GB fought back with two points of their own, remarkably levelling the score with one end remaining after a steal.

The match came down to the final end, but Italy held their nerve to secure the win, prompting a deafening roar from the crowd.

"It's an incredible experience, and we need to get used to it," McMillan added, describing the electric atmosphere as "surreal" and "cool," more akin to a football match than a typical curling crowd.

Continue Reading

Trending