MH17 investigators find ‘possible’ Russian missile fragments

A Malaysia Airlines miniature plane with a text reading “RIP MH17” is displayed at a memorial site for the victims of the MH17 air disaster at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in this file photo taken September 9, 2014. AP

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – Investigators probing the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine said Tuesday they had identified pieces that “possibly” come from a Russian-made BUK missile, where the plane crashed.

International and Dutch investigators are probing “several parts, possibly originating from a BUK surface-air-missile system,” said a joint statement from prosecutors and the Dutch Safety Board (OVV).

“These parts have been secured during a previous recovery-mission in eastern Ukraine and are in possession of the criminal investigation team and the Dutch Safety Board,” it said.

Asked whether the parts were found at the crash site, Dutch public prosecutor spokesman Wim de Bruin told AFP he could not be more specific than “in eastern Ukraine”.

Flight MH17 was shot down on July 17 last year, killing all 298 people on board during heavy fighting between Kiev’s armed forces and pro-Russian separatists.

Ukraine and many in the West have accused pro-Russian rebels of shooting down the plane, saying they may have used a BUK missile supplied by Russia.

Russia and the rebels deny any responsibility and point the finger at Ukraine’s military.

The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) carrying out the criminal probe into the crash consists of the Netherlands, Ukraine, Australia, Malaysia and Belgium.

International air investigators, comprising representatives from the Netherlands, Ukraine, Malaysia, Australia, Britain, the United States and Russia are currently meeting in The Hague to discuss a draft OVV report into what caused the crash.