Today marks six years since 298 innocent men, women and children were killed when a BUK surface-to-air missile hit Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) members will quietly today honour the victims who were killed far away from their homes and loved ones. Our thoughts are also with those left behind.
The AFP is committed to seeking justice for all the victims and families. AFP members are providing investigative, intelligence and forensic expertise to assist Dutch police and prosecutors to successfully identify and prosecute those responsible.
The AFP will continue to proudly work alongside its domestic and international partners as part of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT).
The JIT consists of representatives from Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Ukraine. It was established soon after the downing of the plane and is supported by United Nations resolution 2166.
The first AFP contingent of members left for Operation Bring Them ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ six years ago. In the subsequent years, more than 500 AFP members have been involved in victim recovery and investigative processes internationally. This operation will continue as long as there is work left to do.
Assistant Commissioner Peter Crozier said the legacy of those lost has weighed heavily on the agency and the members helping to seek justice for the victims and their family members.
“We cannot fathom how hard the ensuing six years have been for families and friends left devastated from the deaths of their loved ones, but we hope our concerted efforts to hold those responsible to account go some way to providing them comfort,” Assistant Commissioner Peter Crozier said.
“Six years on from that tragic day, the commitment of all JIT partners, Australia’s and internationally, remains steadfast, as does our resolve in seeing this investigation through to a conclusion.”
