The crash of the Russian jet that crashed in the skies over Egypt killing 224 people on board was a victim of a bomb that was planted on it, said the Kremlin on Tuesday. Following the announcement, Russia said that it would increase airstrikes in Syria.
While arguing that it was important to let the official investigations run its course, Russia has until now played down assertions from western countries that the crash was a terrorist incident.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was informed on Monday night by Alexander Bortnikov, the head of Russia’s FSB security service during a meeting which was chaired by Putin, that the plane crash was “unequivocally a terrorist act”. This disclosure comes three days after Isis terrorists gunned down 129 people in Paris
According to Russian investigators, Bortnikov said, the crash occurred due to the explosion of an improvised bomb, packed with up to 1.5kg of TNT, exploded in mid-air. The Russian investigators arrived at the decision after studying the personal belongings, baggage and debris from the aircraft.
Putin has directed the Russia’s special services to find those responsible for the bombing.
“The tears in our soul and heart will remain with us forever, but this won’t stop us from finding and punishing those guilty,” he said. “We will search for them wherever they may be hiding. We will find them anywhere on the planet and punish them,” he added.
A $50m (£33m) reward for information leading to the capture of those responsible was also announced by the FSB on Tuesday.
The Russian air strikes in Syria have also been ordered to be intensified by Putin.
“It [the air campaign] must be intensified in such a way that the criminals understand that retribution is inevitable,” he said.
News agency Reuters reported that two employees at Sharm el-Sheikh airport were detained by Egyptian authorities in connection with the crash.
“Seventeen people are being held, two of them are suspected of helping whoever planted the bomb on the plane at Sharm el-Sheikh airport,” Reuters reported quoting a security official.
This report was however denied by the Egyptian interior ministry which said: “This news is completely and totally untrue.”
The “high probability” of a bomb being planted on the Russian airliner by a supporter of Islamic State was voiced by Britain’s foreign secretary, Philip Hammond last week.
A device planted on Metrojet flight 9268 exploded shortly after it took off from Sharm on 31 October, suspected US officials. An Isis affiliate has claimed responsibility for the crash.
Russia refrained from commenting on the claims that the Russian Jet was brought down by terrorists until on Tuesday. The claim could not be considered accurate, Russia’s transport minister, Maksim Sokolov had said then.
Russian politicians and media accused the UK of jumping to conclusions when the UK suspended flights to and from Sharm el-Sheikh over security concerns which left 20,000 tourists in the resorts stranded.
Several extremist groups called for attacks against Russia after Moscow began a campaign of airstrikes in late September.
(Source:www.theguardian.com)
While arguing that it was important to let the official investigations run its course, Russia has until now played down assertions from western countries that the crash was a terrorist incident.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was informed on Monday night by Alexander Bortnikov, the head of Russia’s FSB security service during a meeting which was chaired by Putin, that the plane crash was “unequivocally a terrorist act”. This disclosure comes three days after Isis terrorists gunned down 129 people in Paris
According to Russian investigators, Bortnikov said, the crash occurred due to the explosion of an improvised bomb, packed with up to 1.5kg of TNT, exploded in mid-air. The Russian investigators arrived at the decision after studying the personal belongings, baggage and debris from the aircraft.
Putin has directed the Russia’s special services to find those responsible for the bombing.
“The tears in our soul and heart will remain with us forever, but this won’t stop us from finding and punishing those guilty,” he said. “We will search for them wherever they may be hiding. We will find them anywhere on the planet and punish them,” he added.
A $50m (£33m) reward for information leading to the capture of those responsible was also announced by the FSB on Tuesday.
The Russian air strikes in Syria have also been ordered to be intensified by Putin.
“It [the air campaign] must be intensified in such a way that the criminals understand that retribution is inevitable,” he said.
News agency Reuters reported that two employees at Sharm el-Sheikh airport were detained by Egyptian authorities in connection with the crash.
“Seventeen people are being held, two of them are suspected of helping whoever planted the bomb on the plane at Sharm el-Sheikh airport,” Reuters reported quoting a security official.
This report was however denied by the Egyptian interior ministry which said: “This news is completely and totally untrue.”
The “high probability” of a bomb being planted on the Russian airliner by a supporter of Islamic State was voiced by Britain’s foreign secretary, Philip Hammond last week.
A device planted on Metrojet flight 9268 exploded shortly after it took off from Sharm on 31 October, suspected US officials. An Isis affiliate has claimed responsibility for the crash.
Russia refrained from commenting on the claims that the Russian Jet was brought down by terrorists until on Tuesday. The claim could not be considered accurate, Russia’s transport minister, Maksim Sokolov had said then.
Russian politicians and media accused the UK of jumping to conclusions when the UK suspended flights to and from Sharm el-Sheikh over security concerns which left 20,000 tourists in the resorts stranded.
Several extremist groups called for attacks against Russia after Moscow began a campaign of airstrikes in late September.
(Source:www.theguardian.com)