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REX/IBL
World News

Ukraine crash 'beyond all nightmares', says Dutch priest

The country had the highest death toll in the disaster which claimed the lives of 298 people including ten Britons.

On Sunday a memorial service was held at St Vitus Catholic Church in Hilversum.

Three entire families from the city and the son of a fourth were on board the aircraft when it was reportedly hit by a rocket above Eastern Ukraine.

Father Julius Dresme led the service and told Premier's News Hour: "The first moment people are crying and then they are very angry and then they are very confused about what happened.

"It's so terrible, so unreasonable, so unexpected, how can you react?"

The US say there is growing evidence Russia was involved in the crash on 17 July.

Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over a pro-Russian rebel held area as it flew between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpar.

Outside Schipol Airport candles have been lit and flowers laid in tribute to those who died.

A group of young people light candles to remember the dead of flight MH17

There are claims local villagers and rebels have been opening passengers luggage and stealing valuables.

Many of the bodies are sitting on trains with nowhere to go until the rebels allow them to leave.

Father Julius said: "Here the people are shocked when they notice on television people are stealing their personal things.

"It deepens the sadness and anger. It's beyond all nightmares, what is happening now."

Crash site in Eastern Ukraine

Russia is coming under intense international pressure to force the rebels to allow international investigators access to the crash site.

Monitors from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) have been at the crash site but have had limit access because of the rebels.

They have promised to hand over the plane's black boxes but American officials suspect they could have been tampered with.

REX

Debris at the crash site.

On Sunday cranes could be seen moving parts of the debris, although it's not clear who was doing it.

Listen to Father Julius Dresme appeal for prayers on Premier's News Hour:

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