The trial of Abu Agila Mohammad Masud Kheir al-Marimi, which was set to begin with jury selection this Wednesday in Washington, has been postponed by U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich. This marks the third time the proceedings have been delayed in the case concerning the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, an attack that occurred over Lockerbie, Scotland.

The delay stems from the emergence of new evidence, which was brought to light only three days prior to the scheduled start date. While the specific nature of this evidence has not been publicly detailed, the court granted the postponement to ensure the defense team has adequate time to examine the materials. This trial is particularly significant as it represents the first time a suspect in the Lockerbie bombing has faced prosecution within the United States legal system.

Sources agree that the postponement is a direct result of the late discovery of evidence, though they differ slightly in their framing of the event. The BBC emphasizes the frequency of the delays, noting this is the third postponement, while the SCMP focuses on the procedural context of the federal judge’s order and the specific identity of the defendant as a former Libyan intelligence official. Both outlets confirm that the case remains active despite the nearly 40-year gap between the original incident and the current trial.