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       US, British Officials Note Possibility of Terrorism in Sinai Crash

   by VOA News

   U.S. and British officials are telling the media it is "highly
   possible" a bomb brought down a Russian passenger jet over Egypt's
   Sinai Peninsula last week, killing all 224 people on board.

   One U.S. official has told some media that intercepted communications
   point to the possibility that Islamic State was responsible. And
   British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said "there is a significant
   possibility that the crash was caused by an explosive devise on board
   the aircraft."

   Experts are examining the wreckage for any signs of terrorism, while
   some reports say forensic examinations have revealed shrapnel in some
   of the victims. The experts also have retrieved both black box flight
   recorders.

   Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the disaster, but has so
   far not presented any firm evidence to back it up.

   Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi has dismissed Islamic State's
   claim as "propaganda" and an effort to damage Egyptian security and
   stability. He is in London to meet Thursday with British Prime Minister
   David Cameron.

   With Britain and Egypt offering vastly different opinions on the cause
   of the plane crash, the incident is sure to be high on the two leaders'
   agenda. The meeting at 10 Downing Street was scheduled before the crash
   took place.

   The Associated Press is reporting that the chief of the Sharm El-Sheikh
   airport, Abdel-Wahab Ali, was promoted Wednesday to become assistant to
   the chairman of the state company that runs Egypt's civilian airports.
   It is not clear what effect this would have on his position at the
   airport.

   David Schenker, a Middle East expert with the Washington Institute for
   Near East Policy, tells VOA "it would not come as much of a surprise"
   if Islamic State was responsible for destroying the plane.

   Schenker said the extremist group has an interest in attacking both
   Egypt and Russia, and that blowing up a soft target like a civilian
   airliner would send a powerful signal.

   ''

   International airlines wary

   In Britain, Prime Minister Cameron's office issued a statement saying,
   "While the investigation is still ongoing we cannot say categorically
   why the Russian jet crashed. But as more information has come to light
   we have become concerned that the plane may well have been brought down
   by an explosive device."

   The Metrojet Airbus took off from the Egyptian resort of Sharm
   El-Sheikh for St. Petersburg, Russia Saturday and shortly thereafter
   disappeared from radar.

   A team of British aviation experts went to the Sharm-El-Sheikh airport
   to assess security there before any British flights will be allowed to
   leave the region.

   White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Wednesday no U.S. air carriers
   regularly operate out of the Sinai Peninsula. But he noted that U.S.
   air safety experts warned commercial airlines several months ago that
   they were "at potential risk associated with extremist activity" if
   they flew over the Sinai.

   Several airlines, including Air France, Lufthansa, Dubai-based Emirates
   and Qatar Airways have stopped flying over the Sinai Peninsula for
   safety reasons.

   ''

   Authorities say they have not found any evidence of a missile attack at
   the time the jetliner crashed Saturday. That leaves open the
   possibility of an explosion aboard the flight, either from a bomb or a
   mechanical failure.

   A U.S. military satellite detected a heat flash at the time the
   jetliner crashed over the Sinai. But no missile launch or missile
   engine burn was detected.

   Experts told U.S. media outlets the heat flash could point to a
   catastrophic event aboard the aircraft, such as an explosion, fire, or
   even just the aircraft parts hitting the ground.
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   -of-terrorism-in-sinai-crash/3037829.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/us-british-officials-note-possibility-of-terrorism-in-sinai-crash/3037829.html