Egypt: Investigations yet to confirm that Russian plane crash was caused by ‘terrorist act’

Following the Russian announcement on Tuesday that the Metrojet plane crash in Sinai last month was the result of a "terrorist act," Egyptian officials have asserted that investigations are still ongoing and that evidence of foul play or terrorism has yet to be confirmed.

In a press conference held in Sharm el-Sheikh on Tuesday, Prime Minister Sherif Ismail said that the Egyptian committee investigating the incident would take the Russian findings into account. Russia has informed the authorities of the results of its investigations, Ismail added, and Egypt will continue to collaborate with Russia to combat terrorism. 

Civil Aviation Minister Hossam Kamal reiterated Ismail's remarks, pointing out that these investigations can take up to one or two years, and that the Egyptian investigative committee is the body responsible for announcing conclusive findings.

Director of the Russian Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov stated earlier on Tuesday that a terrorist attack caused the fatal crash, which killed all 224 people on broard.

In a meeting with Russian President Vladmir Putin, Bortnikov said traces of explosives were discovered among personal belongings, baggage and parts of the aircraft, according to a transcript published on the Kremlin's website.

Russian experts, according to the statement, revealed that a makeshift bomb containing one kilogram of TNT exploded on board the plane, explaining why debris was found scattered over a wide area.

Egypt's Interior Ministry issued a statement on Tuesday evening in response to the Russian findings, asserting that Egypt has increased its security measures in airports, "taking into consideration all the possible causes for the plane crash, including a terrorist attack." The ministry had denied earlier media reports that two employees were arrested at Sharm el-Sheikh airport in response to the Kremlin's statement in a post on its official Facebook page.

A phone call also took place on Tuesday between Foreign Affairs Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Russian counterpart in which they reaffirmed their continued collaboration, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Russian passenger plane was carrying 217 passengers and seven crew members when it crashed shortly after takeoff from Sharm el-Sheikh early on October 31.

While the Province of Sinai immediately claimed responsibility for the crash, Egypt repeatedly denied any reports of a terrorist attack, focusing instead on defending its security standards and repeating that investigations were still ongoing.

Putin held a meeting on Monday evening to review the Russian Federal Security Service’s report on the crash, which was attended by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, head of the general staff of the Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov, and Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service Mikhail Fradkov.

“This is not the first time Russia has been subjected to barbarous terrorist crimes, often for no apparent reason,” Putin said during the meeting, vowing to find and punish the perpetrators.

“We must do this with no statute of limitations,” he said. “We need to know them by name. We will look for them wherever they may be hiding. We will find them anywhere in the world.”

He also highlighted the importance of relying on Russia’s allies, “who share the moral and ethical values ​​that underlie our policies,” in relation to security and counter-terrorism.

Putin vowed to continue military operations in Syria and to intensify them, “so that the criminals realize retribution is inevitable.”

He said Russia would operate in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, which guarantees the right of all states to self-defense.