Today, Victims of Pan Am Flight 103 (VPAF 103) released the following statement regarding the recent Peacock series, Lockerbie: A Search For Truth, based on the work of Dr. Jim Swire, father of Flora, a passenger on the flight:
We are incredibly frustrated and angry about the content in the series. It does exactly what we feared it would: amplifies falsehoods and unsupported theories, ignores the work of hundreds of family members by focusing on one, disregards the work of investigators and prosecutors, and brings to life, in grotesque detail, the events of December 21, 1988. Worst of all, the series presents a convicted murderer as an innocent man that should be empathized with. This show dishonors the memories of our family members and puts doubt in the public about those that committed this heinous act. We are appalled.
To be transparent, while the attack was a life changing event for me, I have no direct link to any of the passengers. However, I’ve met family and friends of those who were lost on December 21, 1988, several of whom I now regard as friends. Furthermore, I am a member of VPAF 103 and have followed developments in the investigation leading up to the arrest of Abu Agila Mas’ud, the likely bomb maker who, over 36 years after the bombing, will finally face justice later this year.
While the series brings the story of Pan Am Flight 103, which until September 11, 2001 was the worst act of terrorism perpetrated against U.S. citizens, back into the headlines, I’m concerned that the miniseries’ could undermine the dialogue surrounding Mas’ud’s trial. Mas’ud himself was brought to justice after years of investigation, including exhaustive research by Ken Bornstein. David, Ken’s older brother, was on the flight, and his search for the truth and curiosity about his brother’s death lead The Boy Who Fell Out of the Sky, and ultimately, a three-part Frontline Episode on PBS: My Brother’s Bomber. His investigation contributed enormously to Mas’ud’s capture. Those interested in his research, and the evidence against Libyan leadership, should view his dossier.
Thank you. I knew Karen at CIS in Syracuse. Her and all the victims deserve justice without exploitation.
Hi Carole,
Thank you. I never had the pleasure of meeting Karen, but I had several mutual friends who spoke highly of her.
I’ve had reservations about the series since it was announced, and I don’t intend to watch it. The upcoming Netflix/BBC production sounds like it will follow the investigation through 2022, and I hope it’s less polarizing.