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| Lockerbie memorials held in Scotland, England and US | Lockerbie memorials held in Scotland, England and US |
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| The victims of the Lockerbie bombing were remembered at a service in Lockerbie on Saturday as a senior diplomat warned that the truth behind the 1988 bombing may never be known. | |
| Services to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the bombing also took place in London and the US – where most of the 270 victims were from. | Services to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the bombing also took place in London and the US – where most of the 270 victims were from. |
| Former British ambassador Oliver Miles said he believes nobody could be brought to justice for the incident – but said he suspected former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi was behind the bombing. | Former British ambassador Oliver Miles said he believes nobody could be brought to justice for the incident – but said he suspected former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi was behind the bombing. |
| "It was such a shocking and enormous atrocity that clearly nobody was going to rest until the truth was found. I don't think the truth possibly ever will be found so perhaps we will be talking about this for years to come," he told the BBC. | "It was such a shocking and enormous atrocity that clearly nobody was going to rest until the truth was found. I don't think the truth possibly ever will be found so perhaps we will be talking about this for years to come," he told the BBC. |
| Pan Am flight 103 was on its way from London to New York when it exploded above Lockerbie, in southern Scotland, on the evening of 21 December 1988, killing everyone onboard and 11 people on the ground. | Pan Am flight 103 was on its way from London to New York when it exploded above Lockerbie, in southern Scotland, on the evening of 21 December 1988, killing everyone onboard and 11 people on the ground. |
| Scotland's first minister, Alex Salmond, and Lord Wallace, advocate general for Scotland, attended a wreath-laying ceremony at Dryfesdale cemetery in Lockerbie. The service was led by the Rev John MacLeod, while readings and prayers were given by Major Kingsley Layton, commanding officer at Lockerbie Corps, the Salvation Army, and Lord Lieutenant Jean Tulloch, representing the Queen. | Scotland's first minister, Alex Salmond, and Lord Wallace, advocate general for Scotland, attended a wreath-laying ceremony at Dryfesdale cemetery in Lockerbie. The service was led by the Rev John MacLeod, while readings and prayers were given by Major Kingsley Layton, commanding officer at Lockerbie Corps, the Salvation Army, and Lord Lieutenant Jean Tulloch, representing the Queen. |
| US government representative Craig Lynes said: "Families, friends, it is you who bear the heaviest of hearts. While our words can do little to repair the damage caused by this act of terrorism, we offer them with hope. | US government representative Craig Lynes said: "Families, friends, it is you who bear the heaviest of hearts. While our words can do little to repair the damage caused by this act of terrorism, we offer them with hope. |
| "We offer these words as a tribute to the 270 lives that were cut short that evening, we offer them as a way to help carry their lives forward as we continue ours. Your ability to move on from this incident to create your own families, yet remember the loved ones lost, is an encouragement to those who witness your tenacity." | "We offer these words as a tribute to the 270 lives that were cut short that evening, we offer them as a way to help carry their lives forward as we continue ours. Your ability to move on from this incident to create your own families, yet remember the loved ones lost, is an encouragement to those who witness your tenacity." |
| The US attorney general, Eric Holder, was expected to join Scotland Office minister David Mundell and Scotland's lord advocate, Frank Mulholland, at a memorial event at Arlington national cemetery, just outside Washington. | The US attorney general, Eric Holder, was expected to join Scotland Office minister David Mundell and Scotland's lord advocate, Frank Mulholland, at a memorial event at Arlington national cemetery, just outside Washington. |
| Scotland's deputy first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, joined the Scottish secretary, Alistair Carmichael, and the moderator of the general assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Right Rev Lorna Hood, at a service in Westminster Abbey. | Scotland's deputy first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, joined the Scottish secretary, Alistair Carmichael, and the moderator of the general assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Right Rev Lorna Hood, at a service in Westminster Abbey. |
| Salmond said: "On this 25-year anniversary, and as the country prepares once more to relive the harrowing events of that terrible night, it is important that we remember that the pain and suffering of the families and friends of those who died has endured since that winter night in 1988. | Salmond said: "On this 25-year anniversary, and as the country prepares once more to relive the harrowing events of that terrible night, it is important that we remember that the pain and suffering of the families and friends of those who died has endured since that winter night in 1988. |
| "As the community of Lockerbie marks the milestone, memorial events will be held in Westminster Abbey, Arlington national cemetery in Virginia and at Syracuse University, which lost 35 students in the bombing." | "As the community of Lockerbie marks the milestone, memorial events will be held in Westminster Abbey, Arlington national cemetery in Virginia and at Syracuse University, which lost 35 students in the bombing." |
| David Cameron said: "To families, friends, neighbours, loved ones and all those caught up in the painful process of recovery, let us say to them: our admiration for you is unconditional; for the fortitude and resilience you have shown; for your determination never to give up. You have shown that terrorist acts cannot crush the human spirit. That is why terrorism will never prevail. And even in the darkest moments of grief, it is possible to glimpse the flickering flame of hope." | David Cameron said: "To families, friends, neighbours, loved ones and all those caught up in the painful process of recovery, let us say to them: our admiration for you is unconditional; for the fortitude and resilience you have shown; for your determination never to give up. You have shown that terrorist acts cannot crush the human spirit. That is why terrorism will never prevail. And even in the darkest moments of grief, it is possible to glimpse the flickering flame of hope." |
| Only one man, Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, was convicted of the bombing. He was found guilty in January 2001 and given a life sentence. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008, and Kenny MacAskill, the Scottish justice minister, freed him on compassionate grounds. Megrahi died in Tripoli1 in May last year. | Only one man, Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, was convicted of the bombing. He was found guilty in January 2001 and given a life sentence. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008, and Kenny MacAskill, the Scottish justice minister, freed him on compassionate grounds. Megrahi died in Tripoli1 in May last year. |
| Miles said he did not beleive that Megrahi was the mastermind of the bombing. Several experts and Libyan officials have identified Gaddafi as being responsible for the terrorist attack – particularly since the dictator was killed in 2011. | Miles said he did not beleive that Megrahi was the mastermind of the bombing. Several experts and Libyan officials have identified Gaddafi as being responsible for the terrorist attack – particularly since the dictator was killed in 2011. |
| He said: "I don't think anybody thinks he was the man behind the bombing, I think the question is whether he was one of the operatives who actually did what had to be done if it was a Libyan bombing – he's supposed to be responsible for getting the bomb on to the plane. | He said: "I don't think anybody thinks he was the man behind the bombing, I think the question is whether he was one of the operatives who actually did what had to be done if it was a Libyan bombing – he's supposed to be responsible for getting the bomb on to the plane. |
| "But I don't think anyone thinks he was the mastermind, so to speak – if there was a Libyan mastermind, it was Gaddafi." | "But I don't think anyone thinks he was the mastermind, so to speak – if there was a Libyan mastermind, it was Gaddafi." |
| Miles said diplomatic relations between Britain and Libya were good since being restored in the late 90s, having broken down before the Lockerbie attack. | Miles said diplomatic relations between Britain and Libya were good since being restored in the late 90s, having broken down before the Lockerbie attack. |
| He said: "While Gaddafi was still in power I never felt there was any real prospect of co-operation from the Libyan side. That's changed. We now have a Libyan regime that has no interest in concealing Gaddafi's crimes – rather the contrary." | He said: "While Gaddafi was still in power I never felt there was any real prospect of co-operation from the Libyan side. That's changed. We now have a Libyan regime that has no interest in concealing Gaddafi's crimes – rather the contrary." |
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