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Russian plane crash: UK suspects bomb was placed in hold | Russian plane crash: UK suspects bomb was placed in hold |
(about 2 hours later) | |
UK investigators looking at what caused a Russian airliner to crash in Egypt believe a bomb was put in the hold prior to take-off, the BBC has learned. | UK investigators looking at what caused a Russian airliner to crash in Egypt believe a bomb was put in the hold prior to take-off, the BBC has learned. |
The UK government suspended all flights to and from the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh two days ago. | The UK government suspended all flights to and from the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh two days ago. |
It had received intelligence based on intercepted communications between militants in the Sinai Peninsula. | It had received intelligence based on intercepted communications between militants in the Sinai Peninsula. |
However, both Egypt and Russia have said it is too early to draw conclusions. | However, both Egypt and Russia have said it is too early to draw conclusions. |
The Metrojet Airbus A321 was flying from Sharm el-Sheikh to St Petersburg when it came down in Sinai on Saturday, killing all 224 people on board. Most of the victims were Russian. | The Metrojet Airbus A321 was flying from Sharm el-Sheikh to St Petersburg when it came down in Sinai on Saturday, killing all 224 people on board. Most of the victims were Russian. |
Britons stranded in Sharm el-Sheikh are due to begin returning on Friday, but will only be allowed to bring hand luggage. | |
However, one of the main airlines operating from the resort, Easyjet, has now said "rescue plans" have been "suspended by the Egyptian authorities". | |
A statement on its website says "discussions are currently ongoing at the highest political level to resolve this situation". | |
French-Dutch airline KLM is also restricting passengers flying from Cairo to hand luggage only. | |
Could Islamic State have bombed Flight 9268? | Could Islamic State have bombed Flight 9268? |
Metrojet crash: Key facts | Metrojet crash: Key facts |
How has airport security changed? | How has airport security changed? |
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says that although British officials have not ruled out the possibility of a technical fault bringing the plane down, they think that is increasingly unlikely. | BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says that although British officials have not ruled out the possibility of a technical fault bringing the plane down, they think that is increasingly unlikely. |
New intelligence was received on Wednesday and the UK government's Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre has spent the past few days assessing what caused the plane to come down. | New intelligence was received on Wednesday and the UK government's Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre has spent the past few days assessing what caused the plane to come down. |
Security service investigators suspect someone with access to the aircraft's baggage compartment inserted an explosive device inside or on top of the luggage just before the plane took off, our correspondent adds. | Security service investigators suspect someone with access to the aircraft's baggage compartment inserted an explosive device inside or on top of the luggage just before the plane took off, our correspondent adds. |
Sinai-based militants linked to the Islamic State (IS) group said they destroyed the plane, but did not say how. IS has called for a war against both Russia and the US over their air strikes in Syria. | Sinai-based militants linked to the Islamic State (IS) group said they destroyed the plane, but did not say how. IS has called for a war against both Russia and the US over their air strikes in Syria. |
Sinai Province militants | Sinai Province militants |
Sinai Province: Egypt's most dangerous militant group | Sinai Province: Egypt's most dangerous militant group |
US President Barack Obama told a CBS radio station on Thursday that he thought there was "a possibility" that there was a bomb on the downed jet. | US President Barack Obama told a CBS radio station on Thursday that he thought there was "a possibility" that there was a bomb on the downed jet. |
"We're taking that very seriously," he said. | "We're taking that very seriously," he said. |
Since Wednesday, several countries have joined Britain in restricting travel to Sharm-el-Sheikh. | Since Wednesday, several countries have joined Britain in restricting travel to Sharm-el-Sheikh. |
France and Belgium are advising their citizens against all but essential travel to the resort, and the Netherlands is warning against travelling via the resort's airport. | France and Belgium are advising their citizens against all but essential travel to the resort, and the Netherlands is warning against travelling via the resort's airport. |
German airline Lufthansa says its subsidiaries Edelweiss and Eurowings are halting flights to Sharm el-Sheikh (from Zurich and Duesseldorf respectively) as a "precautionary" measure, and return flights for customers already there will be arranged. | German airline Lufthansa says its subsidiaries Edelweiss and Eurowings are halting flights to Sharm el-Sheikh (from Zurich and Duesseldorf respectively) as a "precautionary" measure, and return flights for customers already there will be arranged. |
Russian planes are still flying to and from the resort. | Russian planes are still flying to and from the resort. |
"Theories about what happened and the causes of the incident can only be pronounced by the [official] investigation," Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for President Vladimir Putin, said. | "Theories about what happened and the causes of the incident can only be pronounced by the [official] investigation," Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for President Vladimir Putin, said. |
Egypt, which is highly dependent on tourism, said Britain's decision to suspend flights was unjustified. | Egypt, which is highly dependent on tourism, said Britain's decision to suspend flights was unjustified. |
Egypt's President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, who has been on a visit to the UK, told reporters that security at the airport was tightened 10 months ago at the UK's request. | Egypt's President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, who has been on a visit to the UK, told reporters that security at the airport was tightened 10 months ago at the UK's request. |
However, he said he understood Britain's concern. | However, he said he understood Britain's concern. |
Egypt is leading the investigation into the air disaster, with the help of Russian and other foreign experts. | Egypt is leading the investigation into the air disaster, with the help of Russian and other foreign experts. |
Are you in Sharm el-Sheikh? Are you flying back to the UK? If you have any information to share with the BBC, you can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in Sharm el-Sheikh? Are you flying back to the UK? If you have any information to share with the BBC, you can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |