Iranian missile downed airliner, Trudeau says

"The plane was shot down by an Iranian surface to air missile." The Prime Minister says it’s too early to say what actions could be taken against Iran, adding that Canada will wait for the investigation to be finished.

OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says intelligence from multiple sources indicates that an Iranian missile downed the Ukraine International Airlines flight that crashed near Tehran on Wednesday.

He says the strike might have been unintentional.

WATCH NOW: Trudeau’s press conference on Ukrainian Airlines investigation

Trudeau’s announcement coming hours after Donald Trump said it was “Highly Likely” that Iran down the aircraft.

READ MORE: U.S. officials: ‘Highly likely’ Iran downed Ukrainian jetliner

Opening his press conference by stating “I know the news will come as a shock to grieving families”

In a statement made by Iran’s civil aviation authority earlier today, Canadian investigators have been invited to the crash site.

The plane crashed minutes after taking off from Tehran’s airport on Wednesday.

Trudeau repeatedly said there needs to be a complete and thorough investigation to get “a complete picture of what happened.”

He says it’s too soon to blame the United States, which triggered a chain of events that led to the crash with its killing of a top Iranian general last week.

The crash killed all on board, including 138 people who were headed to Canada. At least 63 people on the plane were Canadian citizens.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford added his condolences to Twitter.

Ukrainian officials have said a missile is on their list of potential causes for the crash.

With concerns about an open international investigation and concerns surrounding Iran’s decision to hold onto the black boxes. Trudeau confirmed that Iran will allow Ukrainian investigators to have access to the boxes.

During the conference, Trudeau was asked if he thought that the plane crash could be considered an act of war.

 

Earlier today, US President Donald Trump suggested he believes Iran was responsible, without laying direct blame.

He told reporters that “Somebody could have made a mistake on the other side, noting the plane was flying in a ”pretty rough neighbourhood.“

Trudeau said he had no comment on what Trump had said.

More to come… 

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