On December 21, 1988 in the skies over Lockerbie, Scotland, Pan Am flight 103, a Boeing 747 fell from the skies following an explosion in the forward luggage compartment. All aboard perished. For the past 34 years, the United States and other countries have been unified in their efforts to bring each of the individuals responsible for the bombing to justice. On December 12, the Libyan intelligence officer, who confessed to having made the bomb which destroyed Pan Am 103, is in the custody of the FBI.
Abu Agela Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi, aka, “Hasan Abu Ojalya Ibrahim” (Masud)
Masud was indicted on December 21, 2020 by the Department of Justice. At that time, FBI Director Christopher Wray commented, “Today’s announcement should remind the world that when Americans are harmed, the FBI and the United States government will never stop pursuing justice for our citizens, no matter where that takes us, how long it takes us to get there, or how difficult the road might be. Without the thoroughness and professionalism of our FBI personnel, the Department of Justice, our Scottish partners, and the people of Lockerbie, we never would have found the trail that led us to the men responsible for this attack. We will never forget the loved ones who were lost, and we remain committed to continuing our work to achieve justice for the victims and their families.”
According to the 2020 unsealed affidavit, “the External Security Organization (ESO) was the Libyan intelligence service through which Libya conducted acts of terrorism against other nations and repressed the activities of Libyan dissidents abroad” The affidavit goes on to describe how Masud carried a “prepared suitcase” to Malta where he met with two Libyan intelligence operatives, Abdel Baset Ali al-Megrahi (Megrahi) and Lamen Khalifa Fhimah (Fhimah) for a number of days where Masud was instructed how to set the timer on the bomb in the suitcase and Fhimah placed the suitcase on the conveyor belt and it was checked through for Pan Am 103, with the bomb scheduled to explode when the plane was airborne
Remembering those who perished on Pan Am 103
Every December 21 a memorial service is held for those who perished on Pan Am 103.
One of those who was on board that flight was Matthew Gannon, a CIA officer, contemporary of mine. Known to other members of my immediate family, specifically my elder brother John, who was an Arabist and spent his career in the Middle East. We crossed paths with the very talented Gannon, across a number of locales over the years, and knew him to be an affable and competent officer.
In December 1988, Matt was coming home to his wife and children after a lengthy and dangerous temporary duty assignment within the Middle East where he had, by all accounts, knocked the ball out of the park. No surprise, Matt had the skills. He was known for excellent tradecraft and linguistic skills – he was a shining star within the Directorate of Operations.
Matt is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. In 2012, when his Agency affiliation was revealed, his name was added to the Book of Honor. He was awarded the Agency Star (posthumously) in recognition of his exceptional service and sacrifice.
In 1993, Congress passed Senate Joint Resolution 128, designating Arlington National Cemetery as the site for a memorial cairn, honoring those killed in Pan Am 103. On December 21, 1993, the groundbreaking for the memorial occurred.
The cairn is inscribed, “On 21 December 1988, a terrorist bomb destroyed Pan American Airlines Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all on board and 11 on the ground. The 270 Scottish stones which compose this memorial cairn commemorate those who lost their lives in this attack against America.” A bronze plaque reads, “In remembrance of the two hundred seventy people killed in the terrorist bombing of Pan American Airways Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland 21 December 1988. Presented by the Lockerbie Air Disaster Trust to the United States of America.”
In nine days, the families of the victims will once again be among those who gather to honor the victims of this terrorist attack, may they find solace in knowing that Masud is in custody and that the United States and others never gave up the hunt to bring the perpetrators to justice.
