Dutch Probe: Malaysian Jet Downed by Launcher From Russia

Journalists take images of part of the reconstructed forward section of the fuselage, in this file photo. AP Photo/Peter Dejong

NIEUWEGEIN, Netherlands—Dutch-led criminal investigators said Wednesday they have solid evidence that a Malaysian jet was shot down by a Buk missile moved into eastern Ukraine from Russia.

Wilbert Paulissen, head of the Central Crime Investigation department of the Dutch National Police, said communications intercepts showed that pro-Moscow rebels had called for deployment of the mobile surface-to-air weapon, and reported its arrival in rebel-controlled areas of eastern Ukraine.

From that and other evidence collected by the Joint Investigation Team, “it may be concluded MH17 was shot down by a 9M38 missile launched by a Buk, brought in from the territory of the Russian Federation, and that after launch was subsequently returned to the Russian Federation,” Paulissen told a news conference.

Tan Sri Dato' Sri Khalid Abu Bakar (C), Fred Westerbeke (Second R) and Wilbert Paulissen of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) at a conference on the preliminary results of the investigation into the shooting-down of Malaysia Airlines jetliner flight MH17 in Nieuwegein, Netherlands on Sept. 28, 2016. AP Photo/Peter Dejong