Lockerbie trial delayed for third time after new evidence emerges

Sun Sep 06 2026 03:29:29 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The U.S. trial of a Libyan man accused of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing has been postponed again, raising questions over new evidence.

The trial of Abu Agila Mohammad Kheir Al‑Marimi, charged with the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, was again suspended as new evidence surfaced. Jury selection in Washington DC was scheduled for late this week, but the judge accepted a postponement to January. The delay comes in a case that has been pending for nearly four decades and is of paramount importance to families and governments alike.

Lockerbie trial delayed for third time after new evidence emerges

The trial of Abu Agila Mohammad Kheir Al‑Marimi, accused of building the bomb that destroyed Pan Am Flight 103, has been postponed for a third time. New evidence, previously unknown to the defence and U.S. prosecutors, came to light on August 21, prompting a request to set aside the trial start date.

Jury selection was due to take place in Washington DC this week, but the judge agreed to push the proceedings back to January next year. The decision was emphasised as a significant relief for lawyers who had pressed for more time to investigate the newly discovered material.

Al‑Marimi, who has denied constructing the bomb, is currently in U.S. custody. The delay has been described as a disappointment for the families of the 270 victims, many of whom are American, and for those waiting for justice.

The Lockerbie bombing remains one of the worst terrorist attacks on British soil, striking a Boeing 747 at 31,000 feet and killing all aboard as well as 11 people on the ground. Since 1988, the case has involved joint Scottish and U.S. investigations and legal proceedings across multiple continents.