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Written question asked by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Warsi (Conservative) on Thursday, 20 March 2014.

Lockerbie

Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they are giving to the claim by Iranian defector Abolghassem Mesbahi that the Lockerbie Pan Am 103 air disaster emanated from Iranian planning and sanctioning, and that previously accepted Libyan responsibility was incorrect; and whether, in their renewed diplomatic arrangements, they have discussed the matter with the government of Iran.[HL5968]

Answer

The Government is aware of these claims reported in the media. I would like to refer the noble Lord to the Crown Office statement of 11 March in response to these claims:

“There is nothing new in these claims and some of the accounts of the evidence reported in the Daily Telegraph are inaccurate. Mesbahi's claim that Iran was responsible was first reported in the media in the late 1990s and was available to the defence before the trial but they did not call him as a witness. The wider alleged involvement of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine–General Command (PFLP-GC) has been repeatedly reported over many years but was addressed in full and rejected at the original trial”.

“The only appropriate forum for the determination of guilt or innocence is the criminal court, and Mr Megrahi was convicted unanimously by three senior judges. His conviction was upheld unanimously by five judges, in an Appeal Court presided over by the Lord Justice General, Scotland’s most senior judge. As the investigation remains live, it would not be appropriate to offer further comment.”

The Police Scotland investigation into the involvement of others who may have acted with Abdelbaset al-Megrahi in planning and carrying out the Lockerbie bombing remains open.

As the investigation remains live, it would not be appropriate for the Government to comment further on these claims.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL5968; 753 c54WA
Session
2013-14
Subjects
Bombings Lockerbie Iran
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk