Libyan authorities are reportedly preparing to free Abdullah al-Senussi, a key suspect in the Lockerbie bombing, from prison on medical grounds, according to recent claims.
The controversial figure, nicknamed 'the Butcher', served as a senior intelligence official under Colonel Gaddafi's regime and has been imprisoned in Tripoli for 14 years.
Political Manoeuvring Behind Release Decision
The Government of National Unity, led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, has officially approved Senussi's release in what analysts describe as a bid to win support from former regime loyalists, particularly among major tribes.
This move comes as Dbeibah faces declining popularity since late 2022, when his government transferred former intelligence officer Abu Agila Masud Kheir Al-Marimi to US authorities. Dbeibah later claimed Masud was Tunisian, attempting to distinguish between Libya's state responsibility for Lockerbie and individual criminal cases.
Previous attempts to secure Senussi's freedom have been blocked by political and militia factions opposed to releasing one of the Gaddafi era's most notorious figures.
Outrage and Legal Challenges
The planned release has sparked significant controversy, particularly regarding Senussi's alleged involvement in the 1996 Abu Salim prison massacre, where approximately 1,270 prisoners were killed following an attempted revolt.
In January, the Grand Mufti of western Libya, Sadiq al-Ghariani, demanded the dismissal of Justice Minister Halima al-Busifi over her decision to free Senussi on medical grounds. Al-Ghariani denounced the release as an 'insult to the victims of Abu Salim and their families' and accused the minister of negligence.
Legal complications emerged in July when Senussi's lawyer accused Dbeibah of 'direct interference to halt a release order previously issued... for health reasons'.
Connection to Lockerbie Bombing Investigation
The potential release carries significant implications for the ongoing Lockerbie bombing investigation. US authorities have long sought to question the 76-year-old about his suspected role in the destruction of Pan-Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire in December 1988.
Investigators believe Senussi recruited and managed Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al-Megrahi, the only person convicted for the atrocity that killed 270 people - the worst terrorist attack in UK history.
Senussi was due to be extradited to the United States in 2022 as part of renewed efforts to reopen the Lockerbie case, but the transfer was halted at the last minute.
The Crown Office has declined to comment on Senussi's case, while the potential release threatens to complicate international efforts to achieve justice for the victims of both the Lockerbie bombing and Abu Salim prison massacre.
