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No evidence of terrorism in Sinai air crash, Egypt says No evidence of terrorism in Sinai air crash, Egypt says
(about 2 hours later)
Egypt has said it had found no evidence so far of terrorism or other illegal action linked to the crash of a Russian passenger plane in Sinai that killed all 224 people on board on 31 October. Egyptian investigators say they have found no evidence of terrorism or foul play behind the crash of a Russian airliner, in a statement at odds with Russia’s view that the plane was downed by a bomb.
Russia and western governments have said it is likely the Airbus A321 operated by Metrojet was brought down by a bomb, and the Islamic State militant group said it had smuggled an explosive on board. The civil aviation ministry in Cairo said a preliminary report into the crash that killed 224 people on 31 October had been completed on Sunday. Nearly all the victims were Russian holidaymakers returning from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. “The technical investigative committee has so far not found anything indicating any illegal intervention or terrorist action,” the ministry said.
But on Monday Egypt’s civil aviation ministry said it had completed a preliminary report on the crash and had so far found no evidence of a criminal act. Russian and western intelligence agencies have, however, indicated they believe an improvised explosive was smuggled aboard the plane at Sharm airport, with Britain leading a halt of flights to the resort over security fears.
“The technical investigative committee has so far not found anything indicating any illegal intervention or terrorist action,” the ministry said in a statement. A group in Sinai linked to Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, and the Isis publication Dabiq carried photographs of the supposed device.
The crash hit Egypt’s tourism industry, a cornerstone of the economy. The plane took off from Sharm el-Sheikh, a Red Sea resort popular with Russian and British holidaymakers. Egypt’s chief investigator, Ayman al-Muqaddam, said the search for wreckage had extended more than 10 miles (16km) from the main crash site. He said investigators had analysed the plane’s computers and were currently checking the technical details and repairs carried out on the Airbus A321 since it was built in 1997. The Egyptian air force will assist in moving the wreckage to Cairo for further scrutiny.
It raised serious questions about airport security with Russia and Britain both suspending flights into Sharm. According to the Interfax news agency, Russia has yet to receive the Egyptian preliminary report. A Kremlin spokesman said: “I can remind you of the conclusion of our experts from the special services, who came to the conclusion that it was a terrorist action.”
Egypt has been experiencing a two-year Islamist insurgency in the Sinai that has killed hundreds of soldiers and police. Isis said the bombing was in response to Russian airstrikes in Syria. Last month, the federal security service’s director, Alexander Bortnikov, said an improvised bomb with the force of up to 1kg of TNT blew up onboard the plane, and traces of explosives had been found in the plane debris.
Although authorities in Cairo have opened an investigation into a possible security breach at Sharm el-Sheikh airport, including militants infiltrating the baggage handling or catering staff, Egypt has been reluctant to admit the possibility of a bomb attack.
The country’s tourism industry has been badly hit over the years by the fallout from terror attacks. Holiday flights from Russia and Britain to its top winter sun resort will not resume until 2016, leaving it virtually empty for what should be peak season, and overall tourist revenues are expected to fall by at least 10% this year.
This would also not be the first time Egypt’s investigators have stood alone against the international consensus on plane disasters. The 1999 crash of EgyptAir flight 990, also on 31 October, was found by American investigators to be deliberately caused by the pilot flying the plane into the sea, but Egypt claimed it was a mechanical failure of the Boeing 767’s controls.