§ Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 18 June,Official Report, column 381, if he will ask the west German authorities what progress they have made in their investigations of the Berlin bombing on 6 April 1986, and in particular, on what grounds they have now extradited a citizen of Lebanon to face charges relating to the bombing. [34014]
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§ The Prime MinisterInvestigation of the "La Belle" discotheque bombing is a matter for the German authorities. However, I understand that the Lebanese authorities extradited a Palestinian, Yassar Al-Shuraidi—alias Yousef Salam—to Germany on 23 May 1996 in connection with the bombing. He was working for the Libyan Peoples' Bureau in East Berlin at the time of the bombing.
§ Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 18 June,Official Report, column 381, if he will ask the US authorities for what reasons they refused to provide the west German authorities with the alleged evidence of Libyan responsibility for the Berlin bombing. [34015]
§ The Prime MinisterThe United States authorities do not normally comment on evidence in a current investigation, especially if doing so might reveal sources and methods of collection, and risk compromising that investigation.
§ Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 18 June,Official Report, column 381, if it remains the position of Her Majesty's Government that the responsibility for the Berlin bombing rests with Libya. [34016]
§ The Prime MinisterYes.