Lockerbie bombing suspect will not face death penalty

Abu Agila Masud – the suspect accused of making the bomb that downed Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, 34 years ago, will not face the death penalty. 

US and Scottish officials announced on Sunday that Mr Masud was in US custody. He is the first person to be arrested on US soil in connection with the Lockerbie bombing. 

The US says Abu Agila Masud was a Libyan intelligence operative and played a key role in the 1988 attack, that killed 270 people. 

Lockerbie bombing – what happened? 

A device on board the flight exploded as the plane was flying over the English-Scottish border, killing 243 passengers, six crew and 11 local residents on the ground – including a family of four. 

The dead include citizens of 21 different countries including 190 Americans and 43 Britons. 

It remains the deadliest terrorist incident to have taken place on British soil. 

Mr Masud has not yet entered a plea, and a US Magistrate judge Robin Meriweather elected to delay the formal reading of charges until he had secured legal representation for his trial. 

He will remain in custody for at least until a detention hearing on 27 December. 

He is facing multiple charges, including the destruction of aircraft resulting in death. 

Prosecutors said at the Monday hearing they are not seeking the death penalty and Mr Masud could face life imprisonment if convicted. 

As the judge read out the three charges, he interrupted to say in Arabic: “I can’t talk until I’ve spoken to my attorney.”

He is seeking legal counsel after he rejected the offer of free representation from the public defender’s office.