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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Police review Lockerbie bomb case | Police review Lockerbie bomb case |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Detectives in Scotland are pursuing "several potential lines of inquiry" as they renew the investigation into the Lockerbie bombing case. | Detectives in Scotland are pursuing "several potential lines of inquiry" as they renew the investigation into the Lockerbie bombing case. |
| Prosecutors said Libyan Abdelbasset al-Megrahi, who was convicted in 2001 of the murder of 270 people but freed in August, was not working alone. | Prosecutors said Libyan Abdelbasset al-Megrahi, who was convicted in 2001 of the murder of 270 people but freed in August, was not working alone. |
| The fresh investigation is now possible because Megrahi dropped his second appeal before being returned to Libya. | The fresh investigation is now possible because Megrahi dropped his second appeal before being returned to Libya. |
| Victims' relatives welcomed the move but renewed calls for a public inquiry. | Victims' relatives welcomed the move but renewed calls for a public inquiry. |
| Families of British victims were told police were following several new lines of inquiry, including a review of forensic evidence into the 1988 bombing. | Families of British victims were told police were following several new lines of inquiry, including a review of forensic evidence into the 1988 bombing. |
| The Crown Office in Scotland stressed there was "no question" of re-opening the case against Megrahi. | The Crown Office in Scotland stressed there was "no question" of re-opening the case against Megrahi. |
| The Libyan, who remains the only person convicted of the atrocity, has terminal prostate cancer and was released from jail on compassionate grounds this summer. | The Libyan, who remains the only person convicted of the atrocity, has terminal prostate cancer and was released from jail on compassionate grounds this summer. |
| But victims' families are keen to bring to light evidence that was likely to emerge in Megrahi's now-abandoned appeal case. They have urged investigators to make the renewed probe "meaningful". | But victims' families are keen to bring to light evidence that was likely to emerge in Megrahi's now-abandoned appeal case. They have urged investigators to make the renewed probe "meaningful". |
| Megrahi, who is terminally ill, was convicted of the bombing in 2001 | Megrahi, who is terminally ill, was convicted of the bombing in 2001 |
| Some 259 people on board Pan Am Flight 103 from London to New York were killed in the bombing on 21 December 1988, along with 11 people on the ground in the Scottish town of Lockerbie. | Some 259 people on board Pan Am Flight 103 from London to New York were killed in the bombing on 21 December 1988, along with 11 people on the ground in the Scottish town of Lockerbie. |
| Members of campaign group UK Families Flight 103 have delivered a letter to the UK prime minister asking for a full independent inquiry, and requesting a meeting with him. | Members of campaign group UK Families Flight 103 have delivered a letter to the UK prime minister asking for a full independent inquiry, and requesting a meeting with him. |
| In it they write: "We have waited patiently for almost 21 years to learn the full truth of what happened. | In it they write: "We have waited patiently for almost 21 years to learn the full truth of what happened. |
| "Now we await Prime Minister Gordon Brown's response to our renewed calls for a full inquiry into all the circumstances of the bombing." | "Now we await Prime Minister Gordon Brown's response to our renewed calls for a full inquiry into all the circumstances of the bombing." |
| A spokeswoman said that since 1989 a succession of senior political figures had agreed in principle to an inquiry, but said it could not take place while a criminal investigation was ongoing. | A spokeswoman said that since 1989 a succession of senior political figures had agreed in principle to an inquiry, but said it could not take place while a criminal investigation was ongoing. |
| "With the abandonment of Mr Megrahi's appeal against his conviction, there has been no resolution to any aspect of responsibility for the bombing," they said. | "With the abandonment of Mr Megrahi's appeal against his conviction, there has been no resolution to any aspect of responsibility for the bombing," they said. |
| If [the investigation] is just a dodge to prevent an investigation into why the lives of those killed were not protected... I would be livid Dr Jim Swire, relative and campaigner | If [the investigation] is just a dodge to prevent an investigation into why the lives of those killed were not protected... I would be livid Dr Jim Swire, relative and campaigner |
| UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme he had not spoken to Libya about the decision to reopen the investigation into the Lockerbie bombing. | UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme he had not spoken to Libya about the decision to reopen the investigation into the Lockerbie bombing. |
| He said the criminal investigation was a matter for the Scottish authorities. | He said the criminal investigation was a matter for the Scottish authorities. |
| Mr Miliband said: "We have always said this was a terrible crime where justice must be done and every avenue pursued. | Mr Miliband said: "We have always said this was a terrible crime where justice must be done and every avenue pursued. |
| "The investigation was never formally closed and that is why it is wholly appropriate that, if there are grounds for taking new steps, they should be taken." | "The investigation was never formally closed and that is why it is wholly appropriate that, if there are grounds for taking new steps, they should be taken." |
| On a public inquiry, Mr Miliband said: "We have always said that this was something that happened over Scottish soil, it was investigated by the Scottish authorities, it is right that they pursue the investigation on a criminal basis and if there is any suggestion of an inquiry that should be a matter for the Scots, because that's the way our system works." | On a public inquiry, Mr Miliband said: "We have always said that this was something that happened over Scottish soil, it was investigated by the Scottish authorities, it is right that they pursue the investigation on a criminal basis and if there is any suggestion of an inquiry that should be a matter for the Scots, because that's the way our system works." |
| Relatives were told in e-mails from the Crown Office - Scotland's prosecuting authority - that a police review of the case had started. | Relatives were told in e-mails from the Crown Office - Scotland's prosecuting authority - that a police review of the case had started. |
| Lindsey Miller, a senior Procurator Fiscal, wrote: "Throughout the investigation we have, at various times, taken stock of the evidence as a whole with a view to identifying further lines of inquiry that can be pursued. | Lindsey Miller, a senior Procurator Fiscal, wrote: "Throughout the investigation we have, at various times, taken stock of the evidence as a whole with a view to identifying further lines of inquiry that can be pursued. |
| "Now that the appeal proceedings are at an end a further review of the case is under way and several potential lines of inquiry... are being considered." | "Now that the appeal proceedings are at an end a further review of the case is under way and several potential lines of inquiry... are being considered." |
| She added that it "would not be appropriate" to elaborate. | She added that it "would not be appropriate" to elaborate. |
| 'Ultimate motivation' | 'Ultimate motivation' |
| Pamela Dix, whose brother Peter was killed in the bombing, said the announcement should be interpreted as a "good thing" but should not be used to replace a full public inquiry. | Pamela Dix, whose brother Peter was killed in the bombing, said the announcement should be interpreted as a "good thing" but should not be used to replace a full public inquiry. |
| "Expectations around Megrahi's appeal were really quite high but hopes were profoundly dashed when the appeal was abandoned. The situation is unresolved and it is unfinished business," she said. | "Expectations around Megrahi's appeal were really quite high but hopes were profoundly dashed when the appeal was abandoned. The situation is unresolved and it is unfinished business," she said. |
| She added: "We do not know what the motivation for the bombing was, who ordered it, why was it carried out, how was it allowed to happen with the amount of information that the intelligence services had... concerning threats against American aviation. | She added: "We do not know what the motivation for the bombing was, who ordered it, why was it carried out, how was it allowed to happen with the amount of information that the intelligence services had... concerning threats against American aviation. |
| Prosecutors have always believed Megrahi did not act alone | Prosecutors have always believed Megrahi did not act alone |
| "So not only do we not know what was the ultimate motivation for the bombing... but we know really very little about what was actively done to try and prevent [it]." | "So not only do we not know what was the ultimate motivation for the bombing... but we know really very little about what was actively done to try and prevent [it]." |
| Dr Jim Swire, who has campaigned for a full inquiry into the bombing since his daughter Flora died in the atrocity, said: "I think that if they are really going to a meaningful investigation then that is all well and good and long overdue. | Dr Jim Swire, who has campaigned for a full inquiry into the bombing since his daughter Flora died in the atrocity, said: "I think that if they are really going to a meaningful investigation then that is all well and good and long overdue. |
| "But if it is just a dodge to prevent an investigation into why the lives of those killed were not protected then I would be livid." | "But if it is just a dodge to prevent an investigation into why the lives of those killed were not protected then I would be livid." |
| Martin Cadman, who lost his son William in the 1988 bombing, does not believe Megrahi is guilty of the crime. | |
| He said: "I think it's very curious the way the law is going about things. | |
| "We've been led up the garden path by the authorities for a long time. I'm deeply suspicious of this." | |
| "First they will have to find some people to suspect." | |
| UK Families Flight 103 said they were seeking access to previously withheld documents referred to in Megrahi's trial, which suggested they contained "significant information" from a foreign power. | UK Families Flight 103 said they were seeking access to previously withheld documents referred to in Megrahi's trial, which suggested they contained "significant information" from a foreign power. |
| They argue that under the European Convention on Human Rights they had the right to an inquiry that conformed to "certain minimum standards where it has occurred at the hands of a state or at the hands of agents of a state". | They argue that under the European Convention on Human Rights they had the right to an inquiry that conformed to "certain minimum standards where it has occurred at the hands of a state or at the hands of agents of a state". |
| Megrahi, who served eight years before the Scottish Government made the decision to release him, has always protested his innocence. | Megrahi, who served eight years before the Scottish Government made the decision to release him, has always protested his innocence. |
| A Crown Office spokesman said: "There is no question of re-opening the case against Megrahi. The open case concerns only the involvement of others with Megrahi in the murder of 270 people. | |
| "The trial court accepted the Crown's position that Mr Megrahi acted in furtherance of the Libyan intelligence services and did not act alone. The Crown stood ready, willing and able to support his conviction throughout the appeal process which he abandoned." |