Twenty-nine years ago, as acting Attorney General, he announced the first indictments of suspects in the Lockerbie case. Today, in one of his last acts as Donald Trump's top legal officer, he said events had come "full circle," with the unsealing of charges against Abu Agila Mohammad Masud. Over the years, the bombing has spawned any number of theories about who was responsible, with fingers pointing, at one time or another, at Iran, Syria, Palestinian militants and, finally, Libya.
But US and British officials have long been convinced Lockerbie was the work of Libyan agents, working under orders from the country's former dictator, Muammar Gaddafi. Today's charges could, finally, lay other theories to rest.
Mr Masud is alleged to have been a top bomb-maker for Mr Gaddafi. He told the BBC at the time that the Libyan national was "a mystery figure" who was named in the initial investigation and "was said to have been a technical expert". The documentary alleged that Mr Masud had also been linked to a bombing at a disco in West Berlin in , which killed three people. It also reported that he was imprisoned in Libya over his role in the uprising that ousted Gaddafi.
Based on travel records and witness statements, US investigators allege in the criminal complaint that Mr Masud flew from Tripoli, Libya, to Malta in December but met with a Libyan intelligence official ahead of the flight. Six days later, two other co-conspirators also journeyed to Malta, and the three men allegedly worked together on the explosive device.
The complaint alleges they concealed the cassette that held the bomb in clothing from a store in Malta. Mr Masud armed the device on 21 December, investigators allege. A suitcase containing the device was then placed on feeder flights from Malta to Frankfurt, Germany, and eventually to London's Heathrow airport, where it was loaded onto the Pan Am flight.
That same day, Mr Masud reportedly returned to Tripoli. Several days later, he and another co-conspirator allegedly met with a senior intelligence official, who praised their work. Ready for hard work. Ready for fun.
At Syracuse University, we are lucky. We only have to look out onto the campus, into a classroom, over the crowd at the Dome to see the spirit embodied in the 35 students lost to us that December day. In fact, they live on among us in the spirits of all our students, young men and women ready for the excitement of challenging and growth.
We express our hope for the future through 35 scholarships in memory of our students. The recipients, each of them risk takers and leaders, go forward to futures of limitless possibility, just as those we lost would have done had they the chance. Although Masud remains in Libyan custody, Libyan authorities provided a copy of the interview to law enforcement.
Based on that and other evidence, prosecutors from the U. District Court for the District of Columbia charging Masud with terrorism-related crimes for his role in the bombing of Pan Am Flight At long last, this man responsible for killing Americans and many others will be subject to justice for his crimes.
The Lockerbie bombing case holds special significance for me because I was serving as the Acting Attorney General when charges were filed against Megrahi and Fhimah in I know firsthand the toil, tears, and sweat that have been poured into pursuing justice for the victims of the Lockerbie bombing and their families. And so it is with profound gratitude that I recognize and thank our law enforcement friends in Scotland for their nearly year partnership with us on this case.
There is much work still to be done, and we will not be able to do it without our colleagues in Scotland. We are committed to working arm-in-arm with them as we move forward in this case. I am especially proud of the countless agents and analysts of the FBI who have worked the Pan Am case relentlessly over the decades. Thank you for your dedication and perseverance. And finally, I thank the prosecutors in the U. Today, Masud remains in Libyan custody, and we intend to work closely with our Scottish counterparts to use every feasible and appropriate means to ensure that he answers for his part in the Lockerbie bombing.
It is my hope that Libyan authorities will allow Masud to be tried for this crime and will provide the support and witnesses necessary to bring him to justice. Even going to London was a big stretch for him, and he went after it just a hundred percent. While the tragedy shaped her life, it remains a part of Syracuse University. Thirty-five seniors spent time learning about each student who was killed in the attack. Inspired by her brother's death, she continues her work, serving as president of Pan Am Flight , Inc.
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