Aug 28, 2009 - WASHINGTON – Attorney General Eric Holder warned his Scottish counterpart in June that the man convicted of blowing U.S.-bound Pan Am Flight 103 out of the sky could get a hero's welcome if allowed to return to Libya, according to the head of a group representing the families of victims.

Holder's warning to Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill came nearly two months before the bomber, Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, was released from a Scottish prison and greeted by a cheering crowd on his arrival in Libya last week.

The Scottish administration has faced unrelenting criticism from both the U.S. government and the families of American victims of the airline bombing since the decision to free the terminally ill al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds. The Scots said he was dying of prostate cancer.

We are very grateful for all the support that we have received both in the last week and the last 20 1/2 years. The response from those we know and don’t know has been amazing. We have heard from people all over the world, and we have been deeply touched. It has helped make an unbearable situation a little more tolerable. Furthermore, we have been grateful for the warmth the Scottish people have shown us for over 20 years. Nothing can erase the care and love they’ve showed to us and our loved ones.

We, the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc, are devastated and outraged following the recent release of Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi from the Scottish prison in Glasgow. This man is the convicted mass murderer of our loved ones – 270 innocent victims in all. He showed no compassion to them or their families when he placed a bomb aboard Pan Am 103, killing all 259 on board the plane and 11 on the ground in Lockerbie, Scotland, on December 21, 1988. Since that time, he was tried and found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison in Scotland. His first appeal was denied; and he withdrew his second appeal. He has shown no remorse or regret or asked forgiveness. We deplore the fact that Scottish Minister Kenny MacAskill decided to release him on any grounds – compassionate or otherwise. He should have been required to serve out his sentence in Scotland – ill or not – as we were promised when he was tried and found guilty in January, 2001.

FBI Director Robert Mueller wrote to Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill to express his outrage at al-Megrahi's compassionate release.

They were miles from home.
Suspended in the sky.
They fell from heaven
No goodbyes.

They came to rest
In lush green pastures
Amongst the sheep
And metal shrapnel

Your hands are covered in their blood.