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Lockerbie bombing: Scottish police to visit Libya | Lockerbie bombing: Scottish police to visit Libya |
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Police officers investigating the 1988 Lockerbie bombing are to visit Libya, Prime Minister David Cameron has announced. | Police officers investigating the 1988 Lockerbie bombing are to visit Libya, Prime Minister David Cameron has announced. |
The new Libyan government indicated in December it was prepared to open all files relating to the bombing. | The new Libyan government indicated in December it was prepared to open all files relating to the bombing. |
Pan Am flight 103 was blown up over the Scottish town of Lockerbie, killing 270 people. | Pan Am flight 103 was blown up over the Scottish town of Lockerbie, killing 270 people. |
Bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, a Libyan agent, died last year having been released from a Scottish jail in 2009. | Bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, a Libyan agent, died last year having been released from a Scottish jail in 2009. |
Megrahi was released by the Scottish government on compassionate grounds, suffering from terminal prostate cancer. | Megrahi was released by the Scottish government on compassionate grounds, suffering from terminal prostate cancer. |
He remains the only person ever convicted of the bombing, but Scottish police hope to pursue other suspects in Libya following the country's revolution and downfall of Colonel Gaddafi in 2011. | He remains the only person ever convicted of the bombing, but Scottish police hope to pursue other suspects in Libya following the country's revolution and downfall of Colonel Gaddafi in 2011. |
Mr Cameron announced at a joint news conference in Tripoli with his Libyan counterpart Ali Zeidan that officers from Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary had been granted permission to visit the country. | Mr Cameron announced at a joint news conference in Tripoli with his Libyan counterpart Ali Zeidan that officers from Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary had been granted permission to visit the country. |
He said: "I am delighted that the Dumfries and Galloway police team will be able to visit your country to look into the issues around the Lockerbie bombing." | |
The officers are expected to travel to Libya in March. | |
A spokesman for Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary said: "It's the first time since the fall of the previous Libyan regime that officers will have the opportunity to make further inquiries in the country." | |
The father of one of the victims of the bombing welcomed the news but said officers must travel "with an open mind". | |
Dr Jim Swire, who lost his daughter Flora, believes that Megrahi was wrongly convicted. | |
Scotland's top prosecutor had previously written to the new Libyan prime minister for help and the UK government had said it was pressing Tripoli "for swift progress and co-operation" on the Lockerbie case. | Scotland's top prosecutor had previously written to the new Libyan prime minister for help and the UK government had said it was pressing Tripoli "for swift progress and co-operation" on the Lockerbie case. |
In April last year, Scotland's Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland travelled to Tripoli with the director of the FBI, Robert Mueller, requesting co-operation after the fall of Gaddafi. | In April last year, Scotland's Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland travelled to Tripoli with the director of the FBI, Robert Mueller, requesting co-operation after the fall of Gaddafi. |
This was followed in May by a meeting with Libya's interim prime minister in London to discuss further inquires into the bombing. | This was followed in May by a meeting with Libya's interim prime minister in London to discuss further inquires into the bombing. |
At the time, a Crown Office spokesman said: "The prime minister asked for clarification on a number of issues relating to the conduct of the proposed investigation in Libya and the lord advocate has undertaken to provide this. | At the time, a Crown Office spokesman said: "The prime minister asked for clarification on a number of issues relating to the conduct of the proposed investigation in Libya and the lord advocate has undertaken to provide this. |
"The prime minister made it clear that he recognised the seriousness of this crime and following the clarification he would take this forward as a priority." | "The prime minister made it clear that he recognised the seriousness of this crime and following the clarification he would take this forward as a priority." |