MH17: Investigators focus on metal shards to identify missile that shot down plane

The investigation into the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 is now focused on the 25 pieces of metal, recovered from bodies and debris from the ill-fated plane, to identify the missile that blew the plane apart.

According to the BBC, Dutch officials heading the inquiry say they want to establish whether the iron fragments could prove the theory that a ground-to-air missile struck the plane.

Investigators are now dependent on forensic samples retrieved from bodies and luggage of the passengers, as well as satellite data, interviews with witnesses and computer reconstructions to determine the missile-type used for downing the flight.

Fred Westerbeke, chief prosecutor for the Dutch national prosecution service, said at a press conference in Rotterdam that the investigation was particularly interested in the origin of 25 pieces of iron, drawn from 500 samples.

He said that the most likely scenario was that the plane was shot down from the ground.

Fred added that if it could be established that the iron had come from such a missile, it would serve as an important information.

At least 298 people onboard MH17 were killed on July 17 after a missile reportedly brought down the plane as it was flying over war-torn eastern Ukraine.