People affected by Lockerbie bombing asked to sign up to view trial | UK News

Relatives of people killed in the Lockerbie bombing are among those being asked to register with the FBI in order to remotely access next year’s criminal trial of a Libyan man accused of carrying out the attack.

Emergency service workers and local people who were among the first to provide assistance are also being encouraged to register as victims ahead of the trial in Washington in the US.

Abu Agila Mohamad Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi, known as Masud, has denied priming the explosive device which brought down Pan Am flight 103 on 21 December 1988, killing 270 people.

Masud, who is in his 70s, was originally due to stand trial in May 2025. However, at the request of the prosecution and defence, the trial was postponed until April 2026.

The US Department of Justice is now encouraging anybody who was harmed by the bombing – including relatives, first responders and emergency service workers – to fill in an online form and register as a victim.

Those who meet the FBI qualifications would be granted access to listen to pre-trial hearings, as well as viewing the trial remotely at a dedicated government site.

Importantly, people who had previously signed up now have to re-register, due to the new trial date.

Judge Jeanine Ferris Pirro, US Attorney for the District of Columbia, said: “If you believe you have been personally or approximately harmed by the bombing of Pan Am 103 you can qualify for remote access to Masud’s trial.

“To qualify you must register as a verified victim by filling out the FBI questionnaire. For more information on this case, visit the US DOJ website and the FBI information page.”