Lockerbie
- March 8th, 2010
- Posted in Lockerbie
- By jwimh3
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Lockerbie Bombing
*Key Events
-December 21, 1988: Pan Am Flight 103 takes off from London’s Heathrow Airport to New York’s JFK Intl. Airport.
-The Boeing 747 took off at 6:25 PM flying northwest.
-7:00 PM: PA103 passes into Scottish airspace.
-7:02 PM: Scottish air traffic control loses radar contact with PA103.
-243 passengers and 16 crew members were killed. 11 Lockerbie residents were killed.
-Wing section hit Lockerbie at 500 mph, creating 155ft. crater, vaporizing several houses, and destroying dozens more.
-10,000 pieces of debris were retrieved, along with fragments of a suitcase believed to be the one containing the bomb.
-Bomb was made out of plastic explosive Semtex, hidden in cassette player in suitcase.
-Muammar Qaddafi refuses to extradite the two suspects from Libya until April 1999, when the US and UK offer to try them in a neutral country with Scottish judges.
-January 31, 2001: Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi was found guilty and convicted of murder, sentenced to life in prison in Scotland.
-August 16, 2003: Libya formally admits responsibility for bombings in letter to UN Security Council.
-August 20, 2009: UK gives Megrahi “compassionate release” as he is dying of prostate cancer.
*Media Coverage
–Initially U.S. and UK media shocked, believing Libyans were responsible.
-Mainstream media in Britain reported that Megrahi was framed.
-According to British journalist Hugh Miles in 2007, many “lawyers, politicians, diplomats and relatives of Lockerbie victims now believe that the former Libyan intelligence officer is innocent.”
-American media and officials have “tepid” reaction to the 2009 release of Megrahi.
History/Background
*Iranian Explanation
–1986 USS Vincennes shoots down Iranian passenger jet killing all 290 passengers
–1988 Iran hires Palestinian Front for the Liberation of Palestine to carry out Lockerbie attacks
*Libyan Explanation
-1979 Mob burns US embassy, US diplomats leave Libya
-1979 Libya placed on list for states who sponser terrorism
-1981 US closes Libyan embassy and dispels Libyan diplomats
-1981 US aircraft shoot down two Libyan fighter jets
-1985 Abu Nidal attacks Roman airport with Libyan funding
-1986
- US sinks two Libyan boats
- Libya bombs Berlin night club which kills US military personnel
- US bombs capitol of Tripoli and Benghazi seaport
- US implements strong trade sanctions against Libya
1988 Libyan agents carry out Lockerbie attack
*Key Players
- United States
- Abu Nidal
- Libya
- Al Meghari
Sources:
Key Events/Media Coverage
1. www.guardian.co.uk/uk/lockerbie
2. www.suite101.com/article.cfm/history_scotland/80286
3. www.consortiumnews.com/2009/082109a.html
4. www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us…/article6805321.ece
5. http://aljazeera.com/news/articles/42/Lockerbie-doubts.html
6. http://nickgilmartin.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/the-bomb.jpg
History/Background
“Abu Nidal — A Profile of Terrorist Leader Abu Nidal.” Terrorism. Web. 17 Feb. 2010. <http://terrorism.about.com/od/groupsleader1/p/AbuNidal.htm>.
Crail, Peter. “Chronology of Libya’s Disarmament and Relations with the United States | Arms Control Association.” Arms Control Association | The authoritative source on arms control since 1971. Web. 17 Feb. 2010. <http://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/LibyaChronology>.
“Mystery as Lockerbie bomber goes missing from home and hospital – Times Online.” Times Online | News and Views from The Times and Sunday Times. 16 Dec. 2009. Web. 17 Feb. 2010. <http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6958291.ece>.
“Pan Am Flight 103 Bombing — 1988 Lockerbie Bombing Led to Libyan Convictions.” Terrorism. Web. 17 Feb. 2010. <http://terrorism.about.com/od/originshistory/p/PanAmBombing.htm>.
“U.S.-Libyan Relations: An Analytic Compendium of U.S. Policies, Laws, and Regulations | Atlantic Council.” Atlantic Council | Renewing the Atlantic Community for 21st Century Global Challenges. 1 Aug. 2003. Web. 17 Feb. 2010. <http://www.acus.org/publication/us-libyan-relations-analytic-compendium-us-policies-laws-and-regulations>.