World News
Al Amin Khalifah Fhimah, acquitted in 1988 Lockerbie bombing trial, dies at 70
Libyan Airlines announced the death of Fhimah, who was cleared of all charges by a Scottish court in 2001.
The short version
- Al Amin Khalifah Fhimah, a former Libyan Airlines employee who was found not guilty in 2001 for the 1988 Pan Am Flight 103 bombing over Lockerbie, has died at age 70.
- Fhimah was acquitted by a Scottish court in the Netherlands, while co-defendant Abdulbasset Al Megrahi was convicted of mass murder for the attack that killed 270 people.
- Although acquitted, Fhimah was recently re-implicated by an alleged confession from suspect Abu Agila Mohammad Masud Kheir Al-Marimi, who is scheduled to stand trial in Washington in January.
Key facts
- Al Amin Khalifah Fhimah died at the age of 70, according to a statement published by Libyan Airlines.[BBC News]
- Fhimah was acquitted of mass murder charges in 2001 by a Scottish court sitting in the Netherlands following the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.[BBC News]
- Co-accused Abdulbasset Al Megrahi was convicted for his role in the bombing and died of cancer in 2012 after being released on compassionate grounds.[BBC News]
- A 1991 United States indictment against Fhimah remained outstanding prior to his death.[BBC News]
- In 2022, the FBI stated Fhimah had been named in an alleged confession by Abu Agila Mohammad Masud Kheir Al-Marimi, who is currently awaiting trial in the United States.[BBC News]
What remains uncertain
- Al-Marimi claims his alleged confession implicating Fhimah was false and obtained under duress.[BBC News]
Sources
- Libyan cleared after Lockerbie bombing trial dies aged 70BBC News - Top Stories