A new podcast series produced by BBC Scotland for Radio 4’s Intrigue and BBC Sounds examines the ongoing investigations into the Lockerbie bombing.
Thw series focuses on new evidence and developments as the alleged bomb maker faces trial in Washington DC.
Journalist Myles Bonnar leads listeners through secret intelligence files, international intrigue and the complex history of the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing, which killed 270 people.
Despite a lengthy international trial and the conviction of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, doubts and conspiracy theories have persisted for decades. Myles seeks to understand why these questions remain unresolved.
The series, titled Lockerbie, is released as Abu Agila Masud, a Libyan man accused of making the bomb, stands trial in the United States.
Masud denies the allegations. American prosecutors believe the trial could reveal new details about how the attack was planned and carried out, potentially addressing the uncertainty that has surrounded the case for nearly forty years.
Listeners will hear from a range of voices, including investigators, intelligence operatives, journalists, legal experts, campaigners and those personally affected by the tragedy.
The podcast intends to build a comprehensive picture of the case and its global impact.
To provide context for the new trial, Myles reconstructs the original investigation, returning to the night of the explosion and speaking with three sources who offer unique perspectives on the police inquiry.
He also revisits intelligence gathered from a Libyan double agent known as “Puzzle Piece”, questioning whether this information could be key to understanding the case today.
The series features interviews with Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora died in the bombing. He remains convinced that the investigation into al-Megrahi was flawed and believes the real perpetrator was Iran.
Myles is also granted access to secret Libyan documents, known as the Senussi Files, discovered in the ruins of the Libyan intelligence agency after the 2011 Arab Spring. These files raise new questions about Megrahi and his alleged co-conspirators.
Reflecting on the series, Myles said: “Lockerbie remains a story filled with questions, extraordinary characters and profound human loss.
“As new developments bring renewed attention to the case, this series explores the evidence, the controversies, and the enduring search for answers.”
All episodes of Lockerbie will be available on BBC Sounds from 22 July.
