Russian and Egyptian investigators have been trying to establish the cause of the crash of a Russian airliner
in the Sinai peninsula, after an Islamist group claimed to have
“brought it down” on behalf of Islamic State. All 224 passengers,
including 17 children, on board the plane died after it crashed 23
minutes into its flight from Sharm el-Sheikh to St Petersburg. Most of
those on board were Russian tourists.
A group that said it was speaking on behalf of Isis later posted an online statement claiming: “Soldiers of the caliphate were able to bring down a Russian plane above Sinai province.”
Several radical Islamist groups have called for attacks on Russian targets since it began airstrikes on Isis forces in Syria in late September, but experts were sceptical that militants had weapons able to reach the plane, which was flying at an altitude of more than 30,000ft.
Russia’s transport minister, Maksim Sokolov, said that the claim Isis militants brought down the plane “can’t be considered accurate”. Mohamed Samir, Egypt’s army spokesman, also disputed the claim, saying: “They can put out whatever statements they want but there is no proof at this point that terrorists were responsible for this plane crash. We will know the true reasons when the Civil Aviation Authority in coordination with Russian authorities completes its investigation. But the army sees no authenticity to the claims.”
A group that said it was speaking on behalf of Isis later posted an online statement claiming: “Soldiers of the caliphate were able to bring down a Russian plane above Sinai province.”
Several radical Islamist groups have called for attacks on Russian targets since it began airstrikes on Isis forces in Syria in late September, but experts were sceptical that militants had weapons able to reach the plane, which was flying at an altitude of more than 30,000ft.
Russia’s transport minister, Maksim Sokolov, said that the claim Isis militants brought down the plane “can’t be considered accurate”. Mohamed Samir, Egypt’s army spokesman, also disputed the claim, saying: “They can put out whatever statements they want but there is no proof at this point that terrorists were responsible for this plane crash. We will know the true reasons when the Civil Aviation Authority in coordination with Russian authorities completes its investigation. But the army sees no authenticity to the claims.”
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