Authorities announced Sunday that a Libyan man believed to have been involved in the 1988 bombing of a Boeing 747 has been arrested and is in U.S. custody.
Thirty-four years ago, Pan Am flight 103 took off from London and headed to New York. The plane was flying over Lockerbie, Scotland, when it exploded, killing 259 people on board and 11 others in the crash. The bombing is Britain’s deadliest terrorist attack – though most of those on board were Americans, according to The Associated Press.
Abu Agila Masud, the man in custody, is accused of being responsible for building the bomb that brought the plane down. Only one person was ever convicted for the bombing, but they died in Libya in 2012. (RELATED: Houston Funnels Tax Dollars To ‘Palestine Film Festival’ Featuring Film Glorifying Terrorist Who Murdered US Army Officer)
Masud was rumored to have been kidnapped in Libya in November, leading some to speculate that he might be handed over to American authorities, BBC reported. U.S. authorities have not yet explained how they were able to take Masud into custody.
Scottish officials have pledged to continue working with the U.S. in their investigation into Masud, who is expected to appear in court soon.
A man accused of making the bomb that blew up Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie in Scotland in 1988 is in custody https://t.co/FfC9X1C5DK pic.twitter.com/aJDm92A7j3
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 11, 2022
Masud was arrested by Libyan authorities five years ago. Not long afterwards, U.S. officials received a copy of an interview in which Masud allegedly confessed to being involved in the bombing of Pan Am flight 103. Masud said that the Libyan government was behind the attack, according to the BBC.
Charges were brought against Masud in 2020, but as he was still in Libyan custody, very little could be done at the time.