Reuters: EgyptAir Mechanic Suspected As Source of Bomb That Brought Down Russian Passenger Jet
According to a new Reuters report, authorities investigating the crash of Russian MetroJet Flight 9268—which plunged into the Sinai Peninsula last October, killing 224—suspect an EgyptAir mechanic of facilitating the planting the bomb that brought down the plane.
Per Reuters’ sources, the mechanic received the bomb via his cousin who is a member of ISIS:
“After learning that one of its members had a relative that worked at the airport, Islamic State delivered a bomb in a handbag to that person,” said one of the sources, adding the suspect’s cousin joined Islamic State in Syria a year and a half ago.
“He was told to not ask any questions and get the bomb on the plane.”
The Reuters report further states that “two airport policemen and a baggage handler” have also been arrested, which would seem to imply that the bomb went through several hands before ending up on the doomed plane. Nonetheless, one of Reuters’ sources says that authorities are still unclear as to the extent to which the other suspects were aware of the plot:
Another source said of the other suspects: “Two policemen are suspected of playing a role by turning a blind eye to the operation at a security checkpoint. But there is a possibility that they were just not doing their jobs properly.”
Though Egypt maintains that they have not yet found anything linking terrorism to the crash, MetroJet says the plane suffered “external impact.” ISIS has also already claimed responsibility for the attack. The November issue of ISIS’ propoganda magazine Dabiq contained a photo of what the terror organization said is the exact bomb, contained in a can of pineapple soda, that exploded onboard.
