• Police in Lockerbie, Scotland, survey the damage on the ground after the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 from London to New York, in December 1988.
    Police in Lockerbie, Scotland, survey the damage on the ground after the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 from London to New York, in December 1988.
  • A policeman walking away from the damaged cockpit of the plane that exploded and crashed over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988.
    A policeman walking away from the damaged cockpit of the plane that exploded and crashed over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988.
  • Ruined houses in the town of Lockerbie.
    Ruined houses in the town of Lockerbie.
  • Some of the destruction caused by Pan Am Flight 103 after it crashed on to the town of Lockerbie.
    Some of the destruction caused by Pan Am Flight 103 after it crashed on to the town of Lockerbie.
  • Police and investigators look at what remains of the nose of Pan Am 103 in 1988.
    Police and investigators look at what remains of the nose of Pan Am 103 in 1988.
  • Police officers examine the wreckage.
    Police officers examine the wreckage.
  • Devastation caused by the explosion over Lockerbie.
    Devastation caused by the explosion over Lockerbie.
  • Wrecked houses and a crater in the ground in the village of Lockerbie, Scotland, after the bombing of the Pan Am 103.
    Wrecked houses and a crater in the ground in the village of Lockerbie, Scotland, after the bombing of the Pan Am 103.

Lockerbie bombing: who is suspected bomb-maker Abu Agila Mohammad Masud?


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US prosecutors are expected to request the extradition of a former Libyan intelligence officer over the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie in 1988.

Abu Agila Mohammad Masud is now suspected of making the bomb that blew up the plane and killed 270 people over the Scottish town.

The terrorist attack, the deadliest on British soil, predominantly killed Americans returning home for Christmas holidays.

The Justice Department is expected to unseal charges against Mr Masud in coming days, US media reported.

Mr Masud was previously in custody in Libya on unrelated charges but his exact whereabouts are unknown, The New York Times reported.

The suspect is alleged to have been a top bomb-maker for the Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi.

Scottish prosecutors previously identified Mr Masud, as well as Qaddafi's former spy chief, Abdullah Al Senussi, as suspects.

The case against Mr Masud in part relies on the work of investigative journalist Ken Dornstein. His brother David was among those killed on the London-New York flight.

Mr Dornstein said Mr Masud’s name had been mentioned in the Lockerbie investigation but authorities could not track him down.

Former Libyan intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi (front row, second from right). Abu Agila Mohammad Masud is believed to be seated behind him. AFP
Former Libyan intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi (front row, second from right). Abu Agila Mohammad Masud is believed to be seated behind him. AFP

He told BBC's Radio 4 Today programme: "I decided to revisit the records and see if I could find something that was overlooked.

“Masud is a case of someone whose name had been in the record but it wasn’t a name anyone could do anything with ... people thought it wasn’t a real person

“He was essentially a ghost, he was a phantom. There was no reason to be certain he existed.”

Mr Dornstein said a breakthrough for his investigation came when he discovered Mr Masud was associated with the bombing of Berlin’s La Belle nightclub in 1986.

“When I matched that up I released Masud wasn’t a ghost, he was a bomb expert,” he said.

“I found the one man who confessed to the La Belle bombing and he had named Masud.

“He was the only person in the world who admitted to knowing him and could tell me who he was. He told me further that Masud had told him in private meetings he had been involved in Lockerbie.

“He could confirm that Masud was still alive, which was news to me, and he could tell me where to find him – he was in a Libyan prison.”

Mr Dornstein said he was “pretty satisfied that Masud put together the bomb” that blew up the plane.

Libyan citizen Abdelbaset Al Megrahi, also an intelligence operative, is the only man to be convicted over the bombing, in 2001. He died in 2012.

The bio

Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Favourite travel destination: Maldives and south of France

Favourite pastime: Family and friends, meditation, discovering new cuisines

Favourite Movie: Joker (2019). I didn’t like it while I was watching it but then afterwards I loved it. I loved the psychology behind it.

Favourite Author: My father for sure

Favourite Artist: Damien Hurst

Abu Dhabi GP schedule

Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm

Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm

Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Classification of skills

A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation. 

A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.

The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000. 

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Healthy tips to remember

Here, Dr Mohamed El Abiary, paediatric consultant at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, shares some advice for parents whose children are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan:

Gradual fasting and golden points - For children under the age of 10, follow a step-by-step approach to fasting and don't push them beyond their limits. Start with a few hours fasting a day and increase it to a half fast and full fast when the child is ready. Every individual's ability varies as per the age and personal readiness. You could introduce a points system that awards the child and offers them encouragement when they make progress with the amount of hours they fast

Why fast? - Explain to your child why they are fasting. By shedding light on the importance of abstaining from food and drink, children may feel more encouraged to give it there all during the observance period. It is also a good opportunity to teach children about controlling urges, doing good for others and instilling healthy food habits

Sleep and suhoor - A child needs adequate sleep every night - at least eight hours. Make sure to set a routine early bedtime so he/she has sufficient time to wake up for suhoor, which is an essential meal at the beginning of the day

Good diet - Nutritious food is crucial to ensuring a healthy Ramadan for children. They must refrain from eating too much junk food as well as canned goods and snacks and drinks high in sugar. Foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins, like fruits, fresh meats and vegetables, make for a good balanced diet

The specs: 2018 Peugeot 5008

Price, base / as tested: Dh99,900 / Dh134,900

Engine: 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Power: 165hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque: 240Nm @ 1,400rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 5.8L / 100km

JAPAN SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Masaaki Higashiguchi, Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida, Sho Sasaki, Hiroki Sakai, Sei Muroya, Genta Miura, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Midfielders: Toshihiro Aoyama, Genki Haraguchi, Gaku Shibasaki, Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Shoya Nakajima, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Ritsu Doan
Forwards: Yuya Osako, Takuma Asano, Koya Kitagawa

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APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)

Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits

Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine

Storage: 128/256/512GB

Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4

Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps

Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID

Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight

In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter

Price: From Dh2,099

Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

In numbers: China in Dubai

The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000

Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000

Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent

What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE

Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.

UAE’s revised Cricket World Cup League Two schedule

August, 2021: Host - United States; Teams - UAE, United States and Scotland

Between September and November, 2021 (dates TBC): Host - Namibia; Teams - Namibia, Oman, UAE

December, 2021: Host - UAE; Teams - UAE, Namibia, Oman

February, 2022: Hosts - Nepal; Teams - UAE, Nepal, PNG

June, 2022: Hosts - Scotland; Teams - UAE, United States, Scotland

September, 2022: Hosts - PNG; Teams - UAE, PNG, Nepal

February, 2023: Hosts - UAE; Teams - UAE, PNG, Nepal

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

The specs

Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8

Transmission: nine-speed

Power: 542bhp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: Dh848,000

On sale: now

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory