New York senators ask Libya to imprison Lockerbie bomber
ALBANY, New York — New York’s U.S. senators are asking the Libyan transitional government to hold the convicted Lockerbie, Scotland, plane bomber fully accountable for his terrorist actions.
Abdel Baset al-Megrahi was convicted and imprisoned in Scotland for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. The bombing killed 270 people, including 189 Americans.
The Scottish government released al-Megrahi in 2009, believing he’d soon die of cancer. He was greeted as a hero in his native Libya and met with leader Moammar Gadhafi, whose 42-year rule now teeters on the brink of collapse.
Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer on Monday called for al-Megrahi to be returned to prison.
Scottish officials say they want to contact him soon to ensure they’ll still be able to oversee his parole.