'Eight Lockerbie suspects' probed

Stuart Henderson, a former detective chief superintendent with Lothian and Borders Police, led the Lockerbie Incident Control Centre from 1988 until 1992.

Mr Henderson told the Scotsman newspaper that a list of people in Libya was identified by police investigating the 1988 bombing, but these people were never interviewed.

The news comes as it emerged potential new lines of inquiry are being considered in the ongoing investigation into the atrocity.

Mr Henderson told the paper: "We submitted eight other names of people that we wished to interview that were strong suspects. Unfortunately, we never got that opportunity.

"I am delighted they are making moves to see if there is anything further, because no matter what anybody says, we did not ever say it was just Megrahi we were after. We never said that. We were after his bosses."

It is reported the "high level" suspects were all male and have never been ruled out of the investigation into the explosion onboard Pan Am Flight 103 which killed 270 on December 21 1988.

Dumfries and Galloway Police's Chief Constable Patrick Shearer said officers were following new lines of inquiry after Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi, the only man ever convicted of the bombing, dropped his appeal against conviction.

The Crown Office stressed the case has never closed, but said any fresh lines of inquiry would not review evidence which convicted 57-year-old Megrahi, who has terminal cancer and was released from prison on compassionate grounds in August.

British relatives of the victims were informed via email that "potential lines of inquiry are being considered". This move has largely been welcomed, but relatives are also calling for a full and separate public inquiry into what happened.