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, Dutch prosecutors leading an international investigation said.
MH17 crashed over territory held by pro-Russian rebels in July 2014, killing all 298 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 parts are of particular interest to the criminal investigation as they can possibly provide more information about who was involved in the crash of MH17."
"We found seven pieces, seven pieces which we established that they were not part of the airplane, and further investigation gives us now the conclusion that it's probably part of the missile system and of a BUK missile system," chief investigator Fred Westerbeke told Reuters.
"The next step is to establish a fact if this could be the missile system which downed MH17 and if that is true, we have important material in the investigation which can help us to find out where was this missile coming from, who was in possession, where was it made," he said.
Experts and Western governments have accused pro-Russian rebels of shooting down the passenger aircraft, but Moscow says it was hit by a Ukrainian fighter jet rocket.
Prosecutors said they would enlist the help of weapons and forensics experts to establish the origins of the parts.
"We are not hundred percent sure at the moment, that's why we are a little bit cautious in the conclusion but the weapon experts who had been looking at these parts they say it's probably BUK missile system and the further investigation we are going to do now is to establish that for sure," Westerbeke said.
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 tried if they are identified. Russia vetoed a Dutch-led proposal to establish a U.N. tribunal last month.
Separately, air crash investigators are meeting with 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 forensic investigation is continuing and we cannot speculate about its eventual outcome," prosecution spokesman Wim de Bruin said.
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 tried if they are identified. Russia vetoed a Dutch-led proposal to establish a U.N. tribunal last month.
Separately, air crash investigators are meeting with 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.
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