The prosecutors from the joint global criminal investigation believe the fragments are from the BUK surface-to-air missile system.
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Authorities investigating last year’s downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine are examining what could be surface-to-air missile parts that were found in the area, a Dutch-led prosecution team said Tuesday. “These parts have been secured during a previous recovery-mission in Eastern-Ukraine and are in possession of the criminal investigation team MH17 and the DSB”, the statement reads. Russian-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces have blamed one another for shooting down the plane. Russian Federation last month vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution to establish an global criminal tribunal to investigate the downing of Flight 17.
The announcement represents the first time prosecutors have confirmed possible physical evidence of a missile bringing down the plane and killing all 298 people on board.
The criminal investigators plan to tap other experts, including specialists and those with know-how of weapon systems, to analyze the items. Though Russian Federation and Ukraine both have Buk missile systems, there are differences in the models that could provide clues, he said.
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These expert consultations are expected to continue for several days. “In its final report the Dutch Safety Board will report on the discovered parts”, according to the press release.
