Prosecutors say Russian missile parts found in debris from MH17 crash site
SOME of the debris recovered from the crash site of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine may be fragments of a Russian-made missile system, said Dutch prosecutors leading an international investigation.
MH17 crashed over territory held by proRussian rebels in July 2014, killing all 298 people aboard, who were mostly Dutch citizens.
“The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) investigates several parts, possibly originating from a Buk surface-air-missile system,” a statement from prosecutors said.
“The par ts are of particular interest to the criminal investigation as they can possibly provide more information about who was involved in the crash of MH17.”
Experts and Western gover nments have accused pro-Russian rebels of shooting down the passenger aircraft using such a missile system but Moscow says it was hit by a Ukrainian fighter jet rocket. Rebels loyal to Moscow have also denied responsibility.
Prosecutors said they would enlist the help of weapons and forensics experts to establish the origins of the parts.
“The forensic investigation is continuing and we cannot speculate about its eventual outcome,” said prosecution spokesman Wim de Bruin.
Prosecutors from the countries affected most – Netherlands, Malaysia, Belgium, Australia and Ukraine – are investigating the crash, but it is not clear where, when or how any suspects would be tr ied if they are identified.
Russia vetoed a Dutchled proposal to establish a UN tribunal on the crash last month.
Separately, air crash investigators are meeting the Dutch Safety Board in the Netherlands this week to discuss progress and see a reconstruction of the remains of the aircraft, which were taken from the crash site in Ukraine to a Dutch air force base.
The board, which is conducting the civilian investigation into the cause of the crash, is expected to issue its final report in October, but not to apportion blame.
The initial investigation was hampered by lack of access to the crash site which was blamed on continued fierce fighting in the area between rebels and Ukrainian forces.