Dutch investigators: Russian missile brought down MH17

Criminal investigators tasked with discovering the origin of the rocket that downed Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine in 2014 announced today they have solid evidence it came from a Russian missile launcher on loan to Ukrainian rebels. The Dutch-led team’s conclusions are not new, but the level of evidence is: Its findings are designed to be used in a criminal prosecution, should the case ever get that far. Russian officials continue to deny the missile came from rebel-held areas, calling today’s report “biased and politically motivated.” All 298 people on board the Amsterdam-to-Kuala Lumpur flight died. Wilbert Paulissen, head of the Central Crime Investigation department of the Dutch National Police, said communications intercepts prove the Russian-backed rebels asked for the Buk missile system and confirmed its arrival in eastern Ukraine. After MH17 crashed, the rebels sent the missile launcher back across the Russian border, Paulissen said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.