// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Lockerbie bombing suspect seized from Libya in 'cloak and dagger' operation
Hundreds of people died when Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie in December 1988
A Lockerbie bombing suspect has claimed he was illegally removed from Libya to stand trial in the United States after "a cloak and dagger operation conducted in the dead of night".
Abu Agila Mohammad Mas'ud Kheir Al-Marimi has alleged he was abducted by armed men and handed over "hooded and bound" to FBI agents, who had a plane waiting to fly him out of the country.
Al-Marimi, also known as Mas'ud, has denied building and priming the bomb that brought down Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie on 21 December 1988, killing 270 people.
The Libyan argues he was the victim of an unlawful rendition and has asked a judge in Washington DC to throw the case out of court.
In response, the US Department of Justice said, under American law, the manner of his removal should not stop his thrice-postponed trial from finally getting underway in January.
Al-Marimi's version of what happened is detailed for the first time in papers lodged with the court by his legal team.
Lockerbie bombing trial date set as judge warns against further delay
I thought the Lockerbie bombing was a closed case until I started asking questions
The US government charged him with destroying the airliner in December 2020, and formally requested his "extradition, expulsion or otherwise lawful removal" from Libya to stand trial.