Mounting protests against Iran have prompted its government to start arresting people involved in the missile attack that shot down a Ukrainian commercial aircraft.
A new video has emerged showing two missiles hitting the passenger plane hours after Iranian authorities conducted the arrests on an undisclosed number of people.
A thorough probe has been carried out by the authorities, Gholamhossein Esmaili, spokesperson of the Iranian judiciary, disclosed to Tehran's Press TV on Tuesday.
Iran has admitted that its missiles struck the Ukrainian plane after a number of videos purportedly showed the aircraft crashing down in flames. Iranian officials have initially denied any responsibility for the tragedy.
The New York Times released a new video late Tuesday that showed a missile, followed by another a few seconds later, may have been launched from a military installation in Iran that took down the ill-fated airliner.
The approximately 2-minute footage taken from what looks like a rooftop surveillance camera, shows a flashing ball of light coming from the ground and striking its target.
About half a minute later, a second streaming light comes darting straight to the plane and causes another thunderous sound on the sky.
The video shows the aircraft remaining airborne for several seconds more, including a shocking moment when it is engulfed in a fireball.
News of the arrests comes days after Iran admitted that human error in the defense systems of its military had caused what offciials considered to be a great tragedy and "unforgivable error" in shooting down the passenger plane moments after it took off.
For days after the violent crash of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, Iran denied that its military might have played a role, even as the timing of the tragedy -- just after Iran launched a salvo of rockets on US facilities in Iraq -- immediately raised doubts that the aircraft was "unintentionally" targeted.
As Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called on the judiciary to form a special committee to the investigation, he said the country owes those who died a huge debt of responsibility. Eighty-two Iranian nationals were on board the plane, including 57 Canadians and a number of other foreigners. Many were of dual citizenship.
Iranian police reportedly used live ammunition to disperse the protesters, based on footage that were released by a human rights organization. Officials have denied the accusation.
Iranians have taken to the streets days after the plane was shot down, first to grieve for the victims, and then to vent their anger on the way authorities have handled the tragedy.
