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OSCE: MH17 debris show evidence of damage from shrapnel

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is unable to determine what kind of weapon caused the shrapnel damage.

By Aileen Graef

DONETSK, Ukraine, July 25 (UPI) -- Investigators from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) reported findings of shrapnel-like holes in the fuselage debris of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.

The debris was dotted with "shrapnel-like, almost machine gun-like holes," said OSCE spokesman Michael Bociurkiw during his daily briefing Thursday. They are unable to determine what kind of weapon from which the shrapnel originated.

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The U.S. and Ukrainian governments have accused Russia of supplying the surface-to-air BUK missile used by the pro-Russian separatists to shoot down the plane. Russia is charging Ukrainians with using an air-to-air missile to take down the aircraft. Both of the weapons produce large amounts of shrapnel.

Bociurkiw said that OSCE monitors called the children's toys and games found among the debris "heartbreaking."

The crash site is still not fully secured as the monitors continue their investigation.

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