Lockerbie bombing: Lawyers bid to postpone Masud trial in US

The trial of Libyan suspect Abu Agila Masud Al-Marimi, accused of involvement in the Lockerbie bombing, which was originally scheduled to begin in the United States in May, is likely to be postponed. This postponement comes at the joint request of the prosecution and defense, citing Masud's health condition and the complexity of the case itself.

Masud is accused of making the bomb that exploded on Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988, killing 270 people. According to Scottish and American investigators, Masud confessed to making the device, which exploded while the plane was en route from London to New York. The U.S. government and defense lawyers have requested a suspension of the trial, which was scheduled to begin on May 12 in Washington.

The motion filed by government prosecutors requests a delay in the original trial date, citing Masud's poor health and the complexity of the case. The Libyan man, in his seventies, is reportedly receiving treatment for a non-life-threatening health condition. Prosecutors stated that the trial could face "additional delays" based on "additional information." Lawyers have requested more time to prepare a revised pre-trial schedule and determine a new trial date. The U.S. government is also continuing to provide the defense with copies of materials and evidence planned for use at trial.

The FBI claims that Masud was a Libyan intelligence operative who worked alongside Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi. Megrahi, his compatriot, was convicted of murdering the 270 victims more than two decades ago after being tried in a Scottish court in the Netherlands. The bomb was hidden in a radio cassette player inside a Samsonite suitcase, which was then smuggled onto a flight departing from Malta on the morning of December 21, 1988. This unaccompanied bag was transferred to a Pan Am feeder flight from Frankfurt to London before being loaded onto Pan Am Flight 103. Masud allegedly told a Libyan law enforcement official that the country's dictator, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, later thanked him for carrying out "a great national duty against the Americans." This confession was allegedly made in 2012 while Masud was detained in Libya during the uprising against Gaddafi's regime.

A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in Scotland said: "We understand the prospect of a delay will be frustrating for those affected, but we would urge them not to be disheartened. Scottish prosecutors have a long-standing commitment to bring those responsible for the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 to justice. We will continue to move forward with resolute determination and continue to support the U.S. authorities in the prosecution of Masud." In November 2022, Masud was taken from his home in Tripoli by a militia group and handed over to U.S. authorities, but the circumstances have not been fully explained. Amid strong opposition from opposition politicians, Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah of the internationally-backed Government of National Unity stated that they had been complying with requests issued through Interpol. Masud pleaded not guilty to the charges after appearing in court in Washington in December 2022.

In the lead-up to Masud's trial, the Lockerbie bombing has once again attracted public attention. A Sky TV drama starring Colin Firth, telling the story of a British victim's father, has sparked controversy, while a BBC/Netflix production is due to air later this year.