Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi dies in Libya

Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, convicted of the Lockerbie bombing in 2001, died on Sunday May 20, according to his brother. His death in Libya follows a long bout with cancer.

According to Metro the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and East Renfrewshire Council are investigating the reports that al-Megrahi is dead, as no official confirmation has been received from authorities in Libya. Sky News report it is proving to difficult to obtain official confirmation of his death as he was a private citizen in Libya. Al-Megrahi was released from Greenock prison in Scotland in 2009, on compassionate grounds due to advanced terminal prostate cancer. His sojourn in Libya resulted in a long fight to have him extradited to the U.S. to face justice. Al-Megrahi was convicted of the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 which resulted in 270 deaths. He staunchly maintained his innocence and was preparing an appeal when he was released from prison.