Press release

Foreign Secretary statement on the one year anniversary of MH17

The Foreign Secretary has remembered the 298 people who died when MH17 crashed, calling for justice to be done and those responsible to be prosecuted.

Speaking today the Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said:

A year ago today, 298 people, including 80 children, lost their lives on MH17. The impact of this tragic event has been felt around the world, particularly in the Netherlands, Malaysia and Australia and on this day, I offer my renewed condolences to everyone affected. The UK Government will continue to provide consular support to the families of the ten British Nationals who died.

Later this year, the Dutch Safety Board will publish its definitive technical report after which we expect further progress with the criminal investigation, which seeks to identify who was responsible. The highly professional team of investigators have been sifting through vast quantities of evidence, gathered painstakingly in the face of frequent obstruction and delays.

Justice must be delivered for the 298 innocent people who lost their lives. That requires an international tribunal, backed by a resolution binding all UN member states, to prosecute those responsible. Any attempt to undermine this process would deprive the victims of justice and cannot be tolerated.

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Published 17 July 2015