KUALA LUMPUR: Ongoing clashes at the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash sites has forced the joint investigation team to postpone their mission and leave only a small team in Kiev, Ukraine in case there is an opportunity to enter the area.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said team commanders from Malaysia, Australia and the Netherlands have decided to not enter the crash site now due to security concern and unstable weather.
"However, a small team from each country will be maintained in Kiev from now until before winter in case there is an opportunity to enter the site to do our work," he said.
Khalid is currently in Kiev along with officers and staff which included the Royal Malaysian Police’s Public Order Department head, Senior Assistant Commissioner Datuk Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid as the police delegation chief; disaster victims identification commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police Hussein Omar Khan, and communications adviser to the United Kingdom and communications officer in Ukraine, ACP Nik Aziz Nik Abdul Razak.
The New Straits Times yesterday reported that the investigators and recovery teams were facing an increased risk, as reports emerged that the MH17 crash site has been planted with landmines.
The Ukrainian government accused separatists of laying landmines on the roads leading to the crash site.