TEMPO.CO, Berlin - A detailed analysis conducted by Germany's federal intelligence service (BND) concluded that Pro-Russian separatists near Donetsk were responsible for bringing down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, German news magazine Spiegel reported on Sunday, October 19, 2014. This was considered the first official accusation made by a European intelligence agency since the incident occurred on July.
On October 8, 2014, BND President Gerhard Schindler presented the agency's findings to members of the parliamentary control committee. The BND also has intelligence suggesting that pro-Russian separatists captured a BUK air-defense missile system at a Ukrainian military base before the incident occurred. "Then they fired the missile on July 17 that exploded in the vicinity of the MH17 aircraft," said Schindler.
The summary by BND included satellite images and diverse photo evidence taken from the location.
The claims were denied by Andrei Purgin, Vice Prime Minister for the People's Republic of Donetsk. "The accusations had no grounds. Such missiles can only be fired by a trained military officer," said Purgin to Interfax news agency.
DEUTSCHE WELLE | MOSKOW TIMES | SITA PLANASARI AQUADINI
