Verdict proves Libyan responsibility, say relatives
American relatives of those killed in the Lockerbie bombing said today’s verdict proved that Libya was responsible for state-sponsored terrorism.
Aphrodite Tsairis, who lost Alexia Tsairis, a 20-year-old student, in the Lockerbie bombing.
Ms Tsairis said outside the court after the verdict: ‘‘This has been a long struggle for more than 10 years. I have a mixed reaction but the guilty verdict against Al Megrahi is a clear triumph.
‘‘Al Megrahi who worked in the intelligence service and the Libyan Government clearly points to a case of state-sponsored terrorism.
‘‘It is now up to the United States Government to follow up its policy on state-sponsored terrorism.
‘‘They have said that they will not tolerate state-sponsored terrorism.
‘‘Now we have in a just and equitable court a judgment against a man who worked for Libya and there can be no clearer statement than that.’’
She added: ‘‘My heart broke when Fhimah was allowed to leave the court.’’
The prosecution had alleged that Al Megrahi had an accomplice Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah who helped ensure that the bomb was placed on to a flight to Frankfurt from which it was switched to Pan Am Flight 103.
The three judges acquitted Fhimah.
Peter Lowenstein, whose son Alexander, a 21-year-old student at Syracuse University in New York, died, said: ‘‘The not guilty verdict was unfortunate but not entirely unexpected.
‘‘My son died and that’s not going to change and I think Mr Megrahi killed my son. The guilty verdict links the Libyan Government to the murder of 270 people.’’
