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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2016/mar/29/egyptair-hijack-plane-from-alexandria-to-cairo-lands-in-cyprus-live
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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| EgyptAir hijacker at Cyprus airport 'wants to contact ex-wife' – live | EgyptAir hijacker at Cyprus airport 'wants to contact ex-wife' – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 10.12am BST | |
| 10:12 | |
| We’re due a news conference with officials in Egypt soon. In the interim, Helena Smith says the woman identified as the hijacker’s ex-wife is now at Larnaca airport to help negotiate with him. | |
| ex wife of man behind #egypt air hijacking now at #larnaka airport where #cypriot gov hopes she'll talk sense 2 love-sick former partner | |
| 10.11am BST | |
| 10:11 | |
| Here’s an image of some of the passengers freed earlier from the hijacked flight. | |
| 10.04am BST | |
| 10:04 | |
| More on the possible identities of those left on board the plane from Helena Smith. | |
| hijacked #egyptair plane being kept 2 perimeter of #larnaka airport: 2 britons, 1 italian, 1 irishman sd 2 b among those still on board | |
| 9.52am BST | |
| 09:52 | |
| The additional people seen leaving the aircraft earlier appear to be freed crew members. However, it remains unclear how many remain on the plane. | |
| #Cyprus #egypt air hijacking: 5 crew members now released. reports tt up to 18 passengers still aboard A320 at #larnaka airport | |
| 9.48am BST | |
| 09:48 | |
| News agencies and other reports are naming the hijacker as Ibrahim Abdel Tawwab Samaha, a professor of veterinary medicine at Alexandria university. Below is a screen grab via Egyptian state TV (and Sky News) which is claimed to show the man on the plane. | |
| 9.44am BST | |
| 09:44 | |
| Ruth Michaelson | |
| Ruth Michaelson in Cairo reports that Egypt’s foreign ministry says it believes the hijacker’s supposed explosives belt might be a fake: | |
| Officials at the Egyptian foreign ministry cast doubts on the idea that the hijacker’s explosive belt might be real, given what appears to be personal motives for highjacking the plane. They added that this incident does not undermine Egypt hiring the British firm Control Risks earlier this year to assess airport security across three airports in the country following the downing of Metrojet 7K9268 in October, if the explosives prove to be fake. | |
| 9.41am BST | |
| 09:41 | |
| The BBC is quoting the head of Alexandria’s Borg El Arab Airport, where the flight departed, as saying the plane was carrying 30 Egyptian nationals, eight Americans, four Britons, two Belgians, one Italian and four Dutch people. | |
| 9.38am BST | 9.38am BST |
| 09:38 | 09:38 |
| Some more images from Larnaca. | Some more images from Larnaca. |
| 9.36am BST | 9.36am BST |
| 09:36 | 09:36 |
| Ruth Michaelson | Ruth Michaelson |
| Ruth Michaelson in Cairo has another update: | Ruth Michaelson in Cairo has another update: |
| President Abdel Fattah al Sisi has spoken with the president of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, according to a statement by the Egyptian presidency. | President Abdel Fattah al Sisi has spoken with the president of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, according to a statement by the Egyptian presidency. |
| They are “review[ing] the situation with regard to the hijacked Egyptian aircraft”, it said. Sisi reportedly “stressed Egypt’s commitment to the safety and security of all passengers on board the plane, noting that it is taking all necessary measures to ensure this.” | They are “review[ing] the situation with regard to the hijacked Egyptian aircraft”, it said. Sisi reportedly “stressed Egypt’s commitment to the safety and security of all passengers on board the plane, noting that it is taking all necessary measures to ensure this.” |
| Both countries stressed their commitment to cooperation over the incident. | Both countries stressed their commitment to cooperation over the incident. |
| 9.34am BST | 9.34am BST |
| 09:34 | 09:34 |
| Another unconfirmed report via Reuters: | Another unconfirmed report via Reuters: |
| More passengers seen leaving hijacked EgyptAir aircraft in Larnaca – Cyprus state broadcaster. | More passengers seen leaving hijacked EgyptAir aircraft in Larnaca – Cyprus state broadcaster. |
| 9.32am BST | 9.32am BST |
| 09:32 | 09:32 |
| Helena Smith | Helena Smith |
| Helena Smith has more on the Cypriot president’s comments. | Helena Smith has more on the Cypriot president’s comments. |
| Addressing reporters with visiting European Parliament president, Martin Schulz, the Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades ruled out terrorism being behind the hijacking confirming instead that it had been instigated by a love-sick man bent on reuniting with his former Cypriot wife. “It’s all to do with a woman,” said the Cypriot president. “We are doing everything to release the hostages.” | Addressing reporters with visiting European Parliament president, Martin Schulz, the Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades ruled out terrorism being behind the hijacking confirming instead that it had been instigated by a love-sick man bent on reuniting with his former Cypriot wife. “It’s all to do with a woman,” said the Cypriot president. “We are doing everything to release the hostages.” |
| The hijacker is described in some reports as a Lebanese university professor. The woman he names as his ex-wife is now being brought to the airport to take part in the negotiations. | The hijacker is described in some reports as a Lebanese university professor. The woman he names as his ex-wife is now being brought to the airport to take part in the negotiations. |
| 9.28am BST | 9.28am BST |
| 09:28 | 09:28 |
| Ruth Michaelson in Cairo has a response from Egypt’s foreign ministry about the reports of the hijacker’s supposed motive: | Ruth Michaelson in Cairo has a response from Egypt’s foreign ministry about the reports of the hijacker’s supposed motive: |
| Officials at Egypt’s ministry of foreign affairs responded to reports that the hijacker’s motives are personal, saying they were aware of the reports that he is seeking asylum and discussing his ex wife. “He’s not a terrorist, he’s an idiot. Terrorists are crazy but they aren’t stupid. This guy is,” they said. | Officials at Egypt’s ministry of foreign affairs responded to reports that the hijacker’s motives are personal, saying they were aware of the reports that he is seeking asylum and discussing his ex wife. “He’s not a terrorist, he’s an idiot. Terrorists are crazy but they aren’t stupid. This guy is,” they said. |
| 9.25am BST | 9.25am BST |
| 09:25 | 09:25 |
| Cyprus president confirms personal motive for hijack | Cyprus president confirms personal motive for hijack |
| Helena Smith says the Cyprus president, Nikos Anastasiades, confirms the personal motive. | Helena Smith says the Cyprus president, Nikos Anastasiades, confirms the personal motive. |
| #cyprus pres nikos anastasiades confirms tt terrorism not behind hijacking but love-sick romeo. "it's 2 do w a woman!" | #cyprus pres nikos anastasiades confirms tt terrorism not behind hijacking but love-sick romeo. "it's 2 do w a woman!" |
| 9.15am BST | 9.15am BST |
| 09:15 | 09:15 |
| More on the hijacker from Helena Smith. | More on the hijacker from Helena Smith. |
| #cyprus #egypt air hijacker now being described as Lebanese: his demand political asylum, according to Cypriot police officials | #cyprus #egypt air hijacker now being described as Lebanese: his demand political asylum, according to Cypriot police officials |
| 9.13am BST | 9.13am BST |
| 09:13 | 09:13 |
| Hijacker may have personal motives: Cyprus TV | Hijacker may have personal motives: Cyprus TV |
| The Cyprus Broadcasting Service, the island’s public TV and radio provider, has said it is believed the hijacker might have personal rather than political motives. | The Cyprus Broadcasting Service, the island’s public TV and radio provider, has said it is believed the hijacker might have personal rather than political motives. |
| He has an ex-wife in Cyprus, it said, reporting that witnesses said the man threw a letter from the plane in Larnaca, written in Arabic, asking that it be delivered to his ex-wife, who is a Cypriot. | He has an ex-wife in Cyprus, it said, reporting that witnesses said the man threw a letter from the plane in Larnaca, written in Arabic, asking that it be delivered to his ex-wife, who is a Cypriot. |
| This is all, it needs to be stressed, still unconfirmed. | This is all, it needs to be stressed, still unconfirmed. |
| 8.59am BST | 8.59am BST |
| 08:59 | 08:59 |
| Reuters quotes Egypt’s state news agency, MENA, as also naming the hijacker as an Egyptian national called Ibrahim Samaha. | Reuters quotes Egypt’s state news agency, MENA, as also naming the hijacker as an Egyptian national called Ibrahim Samaha. |
| A Reuters reporter has more from unconfirmed Egyptian media reports. | A Reuters reporter has more from unconfirmed Egyptian media reports. |
| TV says #EgyptAirHijack perpetrator seeking asylum in #Cyprus. Don't think he'll get it now. Not looking like an #ISIS attack #Egypt | TV says #EgyptAirHijack perpetrator seeking asylum in #Cyprus. Don't think he'll get it now. Not looking like an #ISIS attack #Egypt |
| 8.56am BST | 8.56am BST |
| 08:56 | 08:56 |
| Ruth Michaelson in Cairo says the British embassy is looking into reports that the four foreign nationals remaining on the plane are Britons. | Ruth Michaelson in Cairo says the British embassy is looking into reports that the four foreign nationals remaining on the plane are Britons. |
| It points people to this update on its Facebook page, which reads: | It points people to this update on its Facebook page, which reads: |
| We are aware of reports of a plane hijacking in Egypt and are investigating urgently with the Egyptian and Cypriot authorities. If you are concerned about a UK national please call 0020227916000. | We are aware of reports of a plane hijacking in Egypt and are investigating urgently with the Egyptian and Cypriot authorities. If you are concerned about a UK national please call 0020227916000. |
| 8.52am BST | 8.52am BST |
| 08:52 | 08:52 |
| Here’s some video footage of the released passengers leaving the plane. | Here’s some video footage of the released passengers leaving the plane. |