Lockerbie bomber is freed

Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohamed Al Megrahi was today freed from his Scottish prison cell on compassionate grounds.

Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said Megrahi is suffering from a terminal illness that cannot be treated.

He will return to Libya a free man.

Mr MacAskill had already ruled out a prisoner transfer request from the Libyan government.

He said Scotland would not forget the terror attack, and the "pain and sadness would remain forever", but he said compassion and mercy must be shown.

Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star.