A
Malaysian Airlines passenger plane has been shot down on the
Russian-Ukraine border in an 'act of terrorism', killing all 295 people
on board including around 100 children.
The
Boeing 777 aircraft exploded into flames at 33,000ft as it was hit by a
sophisticated surface-to-air missile over territory near Donetsk held
by pro-Russian rebels who the Ukrainian government says are backed by
the Kremlin.
Dutch authorities have said that at least
six Britons, 154 Dutch and 27 Australians were on board the doomed
plane, and it is feared that up to 23 Americans and four French
passengers had been killed.
American officials confirmed the plane was hit by a single missile while at cruising speed.
The
Ukrainian authorities laid the blame for the attack on the rebels by
denying any responsibility for the missile launch, with President Petro
Poroshenko called the downing an act of terrorism as he called for an
international investigation into the crash.
As
shocking pictures of bodies and debris emerged, the tragedy sparked a
full-blown international crisis last night, increasing tension between
Moscow and Washington. While Ukraine and Russia blamed each other, US
senator John McCain vowed there would be ‘hell to pay’ if it was
confirmed that the surface-to-air missile had been fired by the rebels
or their Russian backers, while Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed
Ukraine for the tragedy
In memory: A young girl places her head on a teddy bear as people light
candles and place flowers in front of the Dutch Embassy in Kiev
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