European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 20, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Milf associated Pressa Yean after pan am flight 103 blow up. Investigators Hunting the bombers struggle with an International web of evidence theory and tales of political intrigue theories abound some conflict others interlock. Proof is another matter terrorism experts and Media investigations have pointed to the popular front Lor the liberation of Palestine general command. Theories Are that Iran hired the organization to avenge a u s warship s shooting Down of an iranian Airliner with 290 people aboard in july 1988 Iran has denied any involvement the Federal aviation administration sent a key directive to u s airlines a month after the Lockerbie crash requiring specific measures for inspecting baggage and screening passengers for example the Faa has ordered installation of explosive detection gear in 40 airports by next october airlines once declined to discuss secant / but in the aftermath of the i Ocker Cic disaster the Industry has has made Security a Subtle part of campaigns to attract and reassure passengers for example extensive publicity has been Given to the explosive cloth actors that the Faa has required pan am and trans world airlines have been the first to install the new devices flight 103 of dec. 21 was an Ordinary flight Lull of Ordinary people students going Home Tor Christmas. Gas taking infants to meet their grandparents a newly engaged couple a Pilot s wife a peace corps Volunteer the Boeing 747 blew up Over the scottish town of Lockerbie killing All 259 people aboard and 11 on the ground the Dumfries and Galloway constabulary. Lockerbie s regional police orce still Heads the investigation eighty officers Are assigned to the investigation which has stretched to West Germany. Malta and Scandinavia inspector Thomas Mccullough said 85 percent of the dicing 747 has been recovered along with 16,000 pieces of belongings that were on Board. We Are making satisfactory Progress with the investigation Mccullough says police won t say More. There Are reports of friction Between the British and West German police the two forces Don t even agree publicly about whether the bomb was planted in Frankfurt. London or elsewhere it is a key question and the answer will help fix the blame for the Security lapse that allowed the bomb aboard what is on record officially is that the bomb was made of a plastic explosive packed in a Toshiba radio cassette player and hidden in a suitcase that v. To loaded into a Forward cargo hold Paul Channon Britain s transport Secretary at the time said it was probably semtex. A colourless odourless Putty like explosive made in Czechoslovakia Deputy chief Constable John Orr said the balance of probabilities pointed to the bomb being loaded on a Boeing 727 in Frankfurt where flight 103 originated passengers and baggage continuing on to new York were transferred to the larger plane at London s Heathrow Airport. The hold where the bomb exploded contained mostly baggage a jumbo Jet crashed near Lockerbie Scotland a year ago this week. Flight 103 investigators still search for answers Sis Gui s Kali in a memorial at the site of the crash serves As a grim reminder of the tragedy. Loaded in Frankfurt and a Small amount of Transfer baggage. Orr said West German police maintain there s not enough evidence to prove the bomb was put on Board in Frankfurt. Paul Wilkinson an Aberdeen University professor who studies terrorism said the popular front a Radical palestinian group based in Syria fits the bomb makers profile. Pulp go Leader Ahmed i bal. A former syrian army Captain has denied involvement but admits his faction has used devices such As the one that destroyed flight 103. The British broadcasting corp and others have named the bomb maker As Marwan three sat. A jordanian member of the popular front three sat was among 16 palestinians suspected of planning a terrorist attack who were arrested in West Germany two months before the pan am bombing in raids in Frankfurt and Neuss police also seized semtex bombs with air pressure sensitive detonators like the one that would rip apart flight 103 All but two of the palestinians were released the bbl to investigative program Panorama said kure sat was freed because he was a double agent working inside the popular front for jordanian intelligence and is now living in Jordan. While the sunday times of London made a connection to Iran. Lbs said in february it was in revenge Lor the 1986 u s bombing of Libya and the us decision to talk with the Plo. They said i bal cleared the operation with syrian intelligence and had the Lull backing of the libyan secret service the sunday times said i bal ordered his top aide Halez dal Kamoni. To set up the bombing team and that dal Kamoni recruited three sat dal Kamoni and another palestinian Are in jail in West Germany As the result of police raids in october. The sunday times said three sat assembled the bomb in Frankfurt and that it was smuggled to Malta a Mediterranean Island Republic with close ties to Libya dal Kamoni and Mohammed Abo Talb an admitted member the Palestine popular struggle front another extremist faction went to Malta and told the cell to put the bomb on the dec 21 air Malta flight to Frankfurt the newspaper said. Abo Talb is one of three palestinians on trial in Sweden for bomb attacks in Northern Europe on israeli and american targets court records there confirm Talb visited Malta oct. 19-26. 1988. After spending one Day in Cyprus the sunday times said a baggage list shows one suitcase was transferred onto the pan am flight in Frankfurt irom air Malta flight km180. In violation of International regulations it was not accompanied by a passenger air Malta says All the might s passengers and baggage Are accounted Lor the newspaper said West German authorities knew about the possible Malta connection in february but did t Tell the British until August when the British said the bomb suitcase contained clothes made and sold in Malta the sunday correspondent maintains the bomb began its journey in Warnaca Cyprus it said at least Lour u s intelligence Ollices boarded a Frankfurt bound Cyprus air Light on Doc 21 and transferred to flight 103, and that one of their suitcases was switched a report obtained by British relatives of pan am victims said up to eight Cia agents were on flight 1c3 returning Home after pinpointing the location of u s hostages in Lebanon the report said to have been prepared by a private investigator hired by pan am s insurance underwriters says the agents also discovered a Cia protected drug smuggling ring at fran Lurl Airport lord Fraser of Carmyllie the Chiel Legal official in Scotland ordered a judicial investigation last week into the bombing. Previously he had resisted Calls Lor a judicial inquiry saying it could Compromise the ongoing criminal investigation wednesday december 20, 1989 the stars and stripes Page 13