Netherlands remembers victims of downed MH17

2014-11-10 2

A musical commemoration has taken place in Amsterdam to remember the people who died on board a Malaysian Airlines plane tragedy in July.

Flight MH17 was downed over a war zone in Ukraine where pro-Russian rebels fighting were fighting Kyiv government forces. Most victims were Dutch nationals.

The service was attended by the Dutch prime minister, King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima, as well as other members of the Royal family and the government.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte paid tribute to those who perished.

A minute’s silence was held in memory of the dead, many of them children setting off on school holiday.

All 298 victim names were mentioned during the ceremony.

Government buildings across the Netherlands are flying the national flag at half-mast today to honour the victims of one of the deadliest disasters in Dutch history.

The jetliner was brought down on July 17 on a flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

Ukraine and Western countries have accused the rebels of shooting the plane down with a Russian-made missile, an accusation which Russia denies.