Canada Finds "No Evidence" Iran's Downing Of Airliner Was Premeditated

Iran has admitted it shot down the airliner shortly after takeoff from Tehran in January 2020, killing 176 people, and blamed a "disastrous mistake" by forces on high alert during a confrontation with US.

Canada said on Thursday it had found no evidence that Iran's downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane last year had been premeditated, and condemned what it called the incompetence and recklessness of those responsible. Iran has admitted it shot down the airliner shortly after takeoff from Tehran in January 2020, killing 176 people, and blamed a "disastrous mistake" by forces on high alert during a confrontation with the United States. A special Canadian forensic team charged with examining all available information about the incident, including classified intelligence, said it had "found no evidence that Iranian officials ordered the shoot-down or that it was premeditated". In a report the team added: "This in no way absolves Iran of its responsibility for the death of 176 innocent people". The dead included 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents.