Concern over the whereabouts of the Lockerbie bomber has eased after East Renfrewshire council was able to contact Abdelbaset al-Megrahi this morning.
Journalists from the Times trying to reach Megrahi yesterday reported that the convicted bomber was neither at his home nor in the hospital where he has been receiving treatment. The newspaper reported that the bomber was not at home on Sunday or Monday and said his monitors in Scotland had been unable to reach him by telephone.
Jonathan Hinds from East Renfrewshire council has spoken to Megrahi every two weeks since his release in August, never missing a conversation. Prompted by the Times, Hinds tried to contact Megrahi yesterday – an unscheduled call – and was told he was too ill too speak.
East Renfrewshire's criminal justice team continued efforts to contact Megrahi this morning, as a spokesman said they were prepared to refer the case to the Scottish government if officials were unable to speak to the Libyan.
However at about 9.30am today the council was able to speak to Megrahi on the telephone.
"In the last five minutes the criminal justice team have spoken to Megrahi at home in Tripoli," a spokesman for East Renfrewshire council said.
He said officials had no concerns regarding Megrahi's whereabouts and would not be taking the matter further. (...)
Megrahi returned to Libya and has not been seen in public since September when he was photographed looking frail in a wheelchair and reportedly coughing badly.
[The above are excerpts from a report on the website of The Guardian.
The Times, which set this hare running with its alarmist twaddle, now has a report on its website in which it tries to save face. It can be read here.]
Sorry, Adam Gabbatt I'm not seeing where "whereabouts" comes in. He happened to be too ill when they called unscheduled. or so they were told. He is quite ill, supposed to be dead already ill. They get all snippy, presume this is a lie and a ruse? He's cavorting about buying more Libyan timers, or what? Then they finally decide they better make him groan into the reciever, so it's okay, we don't have to hunt him down. Great reporting.
ReplyDeleteDoes ebol have any insights? Did you meet Mr. al Megrahi yesterday at a luggage store and receive fake passports, Mr. Bollier? Was the suitcase brown, like not the color but the duplikat style or brown gravy flavor of suitcase?
Oh, saw the earlier article, some evidence he was out of bounds. Maybe he was out doing something. He sure doesn't have much time left. I hope he went mountain climbing or something neat.
ReplyDeleteSo the Times set off on an expedition to ask Megrahi to explain why he isn't dead yet, and failed to meet him.
ReplyDeleteA non-English policeman outside the premises addressed something to a non-Arabic speaking unscheduled visitor ...
Instead of a definitive statement the man wasn't there, it may have merely been none of your business, get lost.
For this slight, they publish a dramatic article and start a time-wasting query at the council who soon find out the man hasn't disappeared after all.
non-story
Small story rather - Times shenanigans, of a disgusting character. Someone should write it up.
ReplyDelete