The Lockerbie Bombing: Is it the Most Intriguing Detective Tale Ever?

This week marks the 35th anniversary of the deadliest terrorist attack in British history— the explosion of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Abu Agila Masud, a 72-year-old man currently incarcerated in the United States, is awaiting trial for allegedly making the bomb that destroyed the airliner. As the trial approaches, there has been a renewed interest in the events of that day, which claimed the lives of 270 people from 21 countries. The investigation into the bombing has been described as the ultimate true crime detective story. The investigation led to the conviction of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, known as the "Lockerbie bomber," who was believed to have acted in collusion with Masud and other Libyan conspirators. However, there have been competing theories about who was truly responsible for the attack. In 2001, a Scottish court ruled that it was an act of state-sponsored terrorism carried out by the Libyan intelligence service. The trial in the US will bring forth the evidence gathered over the past 35 years and will allow it to be presented to a jury. Masud's trial will shed new light on the tragic events of Lockerbie and potentially provide closure for the families of the victims.