form.antibot * :not(.antibot-message) { display: none !important; } Case Study: Inside the Bombing of An Airliner | Office of Justice Programs Skip to main content An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice. Here's how you know Here's how you know Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( LockA locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu About Us News Center News Center Blogs For Media JustGrants News & Updates Justice Today Podcast JUSTINFO Newsletter Monthly Features Multimedia News Releases Publications Social Media Speeches Testimony Grants/Funding Grants/Funding Applicant Resources Opportunities & Awards Recipient Resources Become an OJP Peer Reviewer For Congress NCJRS Library NCJRS Library Search the Library Collection New OJP Resources OJP Publications About NCJRS Topics Topics Civil Rights Corrections Courts Crime Crime Prevention Drugs & Substance Use Forensic Sciences Justice System Juvenile Justice Law Enforcement Research, Statistics & Evaluation Sex Offender Management Tribal Justice Victims of Crime Training Training Justice Events Territories Financial Support Center (TFSC) Tribal Financial Management Center (TFMC) Data ×search Contact Us Careers Subscribe Share FacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home About NCJRS Virtual Library Case Study: Inside the Bombing of An Airliner NCJ Number 224136 Journal The Counter Terrorist Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: July/August 2008 Pages: 8-10,13-14,16,17 Author(s) Richard Marquise Date Published July 2008 Length 7 pages Annotation This article reviews the investigative methods, lessons learned, and court case outcome related to the terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, which exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, after take-off from London’s Heathrow Airport on December 21, 1988. Abstract Although terrorism was suspected, given a number of terrorist threats against American citizens (most on board the flight were Americans), mechanical failure could not immediately be discounted. This article traces the investigation and its findings step-by-step, including the contributions of the investigative resources of various countries. Investigators learned many lessons from their experiences. Information sharing and cooperation among investigators in a number of countries was vital. Separately, neither the police in Scotland nor the FBI would have been able to solve the case. The efforts and resources of the intelligence services of each country were essential for obtaining and interpreting the evidence necessary to identify suspects and eventually obtain a conviction of the Libyan intelligence officer who planned and coordinated the bombing and murders of all aboard the flight. Keeping investigators motivated for the lengthy period of the investigation was difficult. Motivation was maintained by two photographs on the wall at the FBI’s Washington Field Office, one of a baby shoe (there were 16 children under 10 years old on the plane) and a second photo of the tail of Pan Am Flight 103, which had a decal of an American flag. In the office of the Senior Investigating Officer in Scotland was a large poster board that had the names and identifying information about the 270 victims. A key to the investigative method was attention to detail. If an investigator had overlooked any fragment of evidence from the dispersed remains of the plane, the case could not have been solved. Additional Details Publication Format Article Publication Type Case Study Language English Country United States of America Downloads No download available Availability Find in a Library(link is external) Side navigation Search the Library Collection New OJP Resources OJP Publications About NCJRS Popular Topics Aircraft Aircraft security Bombings Criminology International police activities Top Office of Justice Programs MORE TOPICS Archive File a Complaint Find a Career Lookup OJP Grant Awards State Administering Agencies Submit an OJP FOIA Request NEWS CENTER Blogs Justice Today Podcast Media Contacts News Releases Speeches Testimony Facebook (link is external) Twitter (link is external) YouTube (link is external) 810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531 Secondary Footer link menu Accessibility Plain Language Privacy Policy Legal Policies and Disclaimer No FEAR Act Freedom of Information Act USA.gov Justice.gov Play Icon Rate This Page