SCALERA: DECISION TO RELEASE PAN AM BOMBER AN AFFRONT TO VICTIMS, FAMILIES & SECURITY EFFORTS

SCALERA: DECISION TO RELEASE PAN AM BOMBER AN AFFRONT TO VICTIMS, FAMILIES & SECURITY EFFORTS

(TRENTON) – Assembly Homeland Security and Preparedness Chairman Fred Scalera (D-Essex/Bergen/Passaic) today called the Scottish government’s decision to release the man convicted of taking part in the Pan Am bombing “an affront to his victims and their families and our steadfast efforts to secure peace across the globe.”

Abdel Baset al-Megrahi was released to return to Libya to die from prostate cancer, despite his role in bombing the airliner that was carrying mostly American passengers to New York. It exploded in December 1998 as it flew over Scotland, killing 270 people, including 38 New Jerseyans. Baset al-Megrahi had been sentenced to life in prison.

Scalera released the following statement:

“Basing the release of this terrorist on compassionate grounds is an affront to his victims and their families and our steadfast efforts to secure peace across the globe.

“Baset al-Megrahi showed zero compassion to the 270 innocent people he helped kill.

“The victims of this crime and their families are the ones who deserve the compassion, not this ruthless and evil terrorist. He deserves his life sentence.

“This decision also emboldens terrorists and sends the message that some places in this world will let terrorists walk free before their sentence is completed, even if they committed mass murder. This man will return to Libya a vindicated man when he should be spending the rest of his life locked in a prison cell.

“The decision defies comprehension, and I express my sympathies to the families.”

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