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Australian, Dutch police try again to reach MH17 crash site
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AUSTRALIAN Federal Police (AFP) together with their Dutch counterparts will today attempt for the second time to reach the crash site of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.
The team was forced to abandon investigating the site yesterday after fighting erupted between local rebels and Ukrainian troops who were attempting to recover the territory where the crash site was.
AFP Deputy Commissioner Andrew Colvin told a press conference today that the safety of the unarmed team was paramount.
"As you know the mission was aborted overnight due to the intensity of the fighting occurring both on the route into the crash site as well as at the crash site itself," he said.
"The decision was made on advice from the (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) along with our Dutch colleagues that we wouldn't attempt to gain access to the site last night.
"I recently got off the phone from our commander in Ukraine about the activities expected again for today and again in company with our Dutch counterparts and the OSCE monitors we will attempt again to gain access to the site today.
"Of course it is a highly volatile area and I should stress that safety is paramount in our minds, safety of the Australian and Dutch officials and the OSCE officers as well."
Colvin said because of the recent fighting, some remains may not be recovered.
"You have to consider that if the fighting continues, potential evidence will be lost," he said.
"We have to prepare ourselves for the possibility that not all remains will be recovered.
"This is a region where hearing gunfire and shelling is a normal part of the day."
He said that the investigation process could take many weeks because of the challenge of identifying the remains.
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