Lockerbie bomber ‘may be released’ soon

Speculation is growing that the convicted Lockerbie bomber may soon be freed. Libyan Abdelbasset al Megrahi is the only person ever jailed for the terrorist attack which brought down an American airliner over the Scottish town in December 1988.

He was sentenced to life in prison but is suffering from prostate cancer and may be released on compassionate grounds.

Libya has repeatedly lobbied for his freedom, most recently when Colonel Gaddafi met British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in Italy last month. In 2003, Libya admitted responsibility for the bombing which killed 270 people, and paid compensation. Any decision on al Megrahi’s relase must be made by the Scottish government, and a spokesman has said that decision is imminent.

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