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Al-Megrahi arrives home in Libya to a cheering crowd

by mudricky | August 20, 2009 at 11:12 am

538 views | 52 Recommendations | 12 comments

Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi who was released today by Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill on compassionate release has arrived home in Tripoli, Libya.

He was greeted by thousands of people at the airport waving Libyan and Scottish flags.

Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill made the announced around 1.30pm BST that Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi had been set free from HM prison in Greenock and was heading straight to Glasgow Airport.

The Libyan man jailed in Scotland for blowing up a US airliner over Lockerbie in 1988, has arrived home in Libya after being set free.

The Scottish government released Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, who is 57 and has terminal cancer, on compassionate grounds.

US President Barack Obama said the move was "a mistake", and some relatives of US victims reacted angrily.

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Amy Judd

at 11:16 on August 20th, 2009

I've lived in Tripoli, and I would like to say this surprises me, but it doesn't...

jazzyzazzy

at 12:55 on August 20th, 2009

Glad he is out of scotland tho.

eastvanray

at 13:32 on August 20th, 2009

I hope he dies a painful death. No amount of suffering is too much for this terrorist bastard! My sympathies go to the families and friends of the people he murdered.

car1edb

at 13:34 on August 20th, 2009

Am sure a lot of people turned out just to see what the fuss was about, apparently half the people didn't know he had been released. It was Gadaffi who willingly handed him over in the first place. The whole saga stinks of something fishy. I think he cashed in his appeal (as pressure mounts for a public inquiry -which probably won't happen now) to be able to die at home and maybe live to have his name cleared.

The_Cynic

at 13:40 on August 20th, 2009

The full story has to come out about all this, I am still in two minds whether he actually did it or not. Many of the Scottish victims families believe him to be innocent.

mudricky

at 13:49 on August 20th, 2009

Fair point, across the Atlantic people are outraged and it seems less so here in Scotland, a few of the victims family's have spoke out about about him being innocent.

Dr Jim Swire Father of a victum - Mr Swire's daughter Flora was killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. He has always believed Megrahi was not involved, and said he was "delighted" the Libyan had been set free."I think the whole process was a political stitch up from start to finish, which is something that needs to be gotten to the bottom of. Iran's involvement has never been properly laid out," he said."'I'd be astonished, but delighted, if we ever get to the bottom of the political implications behind the bombing and who carried it out."

caj1

at 20:33 on August 20th, 2009

Hello Mudricky! The news from Philadelphia, U.S. area is less than enthusiastic. I lived through this event in the 1980s, and I remember how heart-rendering some of the stories of loss were then. Today, here is a report from the ABCnews.com affiliate, WPVI.com in Philadelphia of how one of the surviving families is coping with the recent news of the convicted person's release. My own comment is that I don't think that the families in southern New Jersey think that there is any justice in this person's early release from jail for "compassionate" reasons. The story from WPVI.com is in part, as follows:

"I don't understand how the Scots can show compassion," said Kara Weipz, of Mount Laurel, N.J. Her 20-year-old brother Richard Monetti was on board the doomed flight. "I don't show compassion for someone who showed no remorse."

Source: 6ABC.com

158

at 18:20 on August 20th, 2009

I don't know if he should have been released but he certainly is no hero.

Al Jihaad (not verified)

at 19:16 on August 20th, 2009

Al Jihaad..!

eastvanray

at 20:25 on August 20th, 2009

If you wanna get all Jihaad I might just go Crusades on your ass!

Helene H. (not verified)

at 22:34 on August 22nd, 2009

I sincerely believe he is innocent. Even after all the years he has spent in prision, he is proclaiming his innocence. Why would anyone do that if they weren't truly innocent? People are framed for crimes all the time. Is it possible he was also. He said he wants the truth to come out so people will know he is innocent. I have also read about two fathers of two victims of the crash who believe he is innocent. One is Dr. Jim Swire. Unfortunately, the case is now closed because he is too ill to continue.

eastvanray

at 10:49 on August 23rd, 2009

"Even after all the years he has spent in prision, he is proclaiming his innocence. Why would anyone do that if they weren't truly innocent?"

Are you on glue? Show me a convicted murderer who has ever admitted their guilt after pleading innocent in court. That is no evidence of innocence. Please, for your own sake, be a critical thinker and ask for EVIDENCE or PROOF of innocence before granting a murderer your sympathies.