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| UN says evidence justifies further inquiry into 1961 Hammarskjöld crash | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| New information uncovered by a UN panel on the death of former secretary-general Dag Hammarskjöld should be investigated to establish whether his plane was attacked just before it crashed in southern Africa, the UN chief said on Monday. | New information uncovered by a UN panel on the death of former secretary-general Dag Hammarskjöld should be investigated to establish whether his plane was attacked just before it crashed in southern Africa, the UN chief said on Monday. |
| Related: Dag Hammarskjöld: evidence suggests UN chief's plane was shot down | Related: Dag Hammarskjöld: evidence suggests UN chief's plane was shot down |
| After receiving the report, the secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, said “a further inquiry or investigation would be necessary to finally establish the facts” surrounding the mysterious crash more than 50 years ago. | After receiving the report, the secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, said “a further inquiry or investigation would be necessary to finally establish the facts” surrounding the mysterious crash more than 50 years ago. |
| The panel “found new information, which it assessed as having moderate probative value, sufficient to further pursue aerial attack or other interference as a hypothesis of the possible cause of the crash”, said UN spokesman Farhan Haq. | The panel “found new information, which it assessed as having moderate probative value, sufficient to further pursue aerial attack or other interference as a hypothesis of the possible cause of the crash”, said UN spokesman Farhan Haq. |
| The answers may lie in classified documents from the United States and Britain that the panel was unable to consult, despite requests for access. | The answers may lie in classified documents from the United States and Britain that the panel was unable to consult, despite requests for access. |
| Ban said he would follow up on the requests. | Ban said he would follow up on the requests. |
| The UN’s second secretary general, Hammarskjöld died when his plane crashed on September 17 or 18 of 1961 near Ndola, in Northern Rhodesia, now known as Zambia. | The UN’s second secretary general, Hammarskjöld died when his plane crashed on September 17 or 18 of 1961 near Ndola, in Northern Rhodesia, now known as Zambia. |
| The 56-year-old Swedish diplomat was on his way to negotiate a ceasefire for mining-rich Katanga province in what was then the Republic of the Congo, which had proclaimed independence from Belgium. | The 56-year-old Swedish diplomat was on his way to negotiate a ceasefire for mining-rich Katanga province in what was then the Republic of the Congo, which had proclaimed independence from Belgium. |
| The three-person panel spoke to witnesses in Zambia who testified that there was more than one aircraft in the air when the plane made its approach to Ndola, or that the plane was on fire before it hit the ground. | The three-person panel spoke to witnesses in Zambia who testified that there was more than one aircraft in the air when the plane made its approach to Ndola, or that the plane was on fire before it hit the ground. |
| These accounts seemed to corroborate information contained in a 2013 report by a separate commission that concluded that there was “convincing evidence” that the plane was shot down as it prepared to land. | These accounts seemed to corroborate information contained in a 2013 report by a separate commission that concluded that there was “convincing evidence” that the plane was shot down as it prepared to land. |
| A former US air force security officer, Paul Abram, told the panel that he heard transmissions about the shooting down of an aircraft near Congo while serving at a National Security Agency listening post in Greece. | A former US air force security officer, Paul Abram, told the panel that he heard transmissions about the shooting down of an aircraft near Congo while serving at a National Security Agency listening post in Greece. |
| The panel said it could not authenticate Abram’s claims. | The panel said it could not authenticate Abram’s claims. |
| The US government wrote in a letter to the panel last month that a search had not revealed any documents on radio transmissions but added that other files classified as top secret from the National Security Agency would not be released. | The US government wrote in a letter to the panel last month that a search had not revealed any documents on radio transmissions but added that other files classified as top secret from the National Security Agency would not be released. |
| Among the new information uncovered by the panel was a declassified report from a senior British diplomat to a secret service agent, Neil Ritchie, who details how he helped the Katanga leader Moise Tshombe travel to Ndola for his meeting with Hammarskjöld. | Among the new information uncovered by the panel was a declassified report from a senior British diplomat to a secret service agent, Neil Ritchie, who details how he helped the Katanga leader Moise Tshombe travel to Ndola for his meeting with Hammarskjöld. |
| The report did not mention the possible crash but “its existence and content serves as new information about the presence of the British intelligence agency in the area”, said the UN panel. | The report did not mention the possible crash but “its existence and content serves as new information about the presence of the British intelligence agency in the area”, said the UN panel. |
| The British government responded last month in a letter to the panel that it would not be able to provide more information on the case due to security concerns. | The British government responded last month in a letter to the panel that it would not be able to provide more information on the case due to security concerns. |
| The UN General Assembly in late December adopted a resolution, drafted by Sweden, that called for the new investigation to finally shed light on the top diplomat’s death. | The UN General Assembly in late December adopted a resolution, drafted by Sweden, that called for the new investigation to finally shed light on the top diplomat’s death. |
| Led by the Tanzanian prosecutor Mohamed Chande Othman, the panel also included Kerryn Macaulay of Australia and Henrik Larsen of Denmark. | Led by the Tanzanian prosecutor Mohamed Chande Othman, the panel also included Kerryn Macaulay of Australia and Henrik Larsen of Denmark. |