Egypt FM: No ‘hypothesis’ yet from Russian plane crash probe
Sameh Shoukry says foreign intel suggesting a bomb was on board 'has not been provided' to Egyptian security services
Egypt’s foreign minister said Saturday that his country was not dismissing possible scenarios that led to the Russian passenger plane crash in Sinai last weekend, but there was no “hypothesis” yet from a probe investigating the disaster.
Sameh Shoukry told a press conference that foreign intelligence suggesting it was caused by a bomb that spurred several governments to impose restrictions on flights to Egypt “has not until now been provided to the Egyptian security services.”
Both US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron have said that the October 31 crash could well have been caused by a bomb on the plane. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for downing the plane and killing all 224 people on board, citing Russia’s airstrike campaign ostensibly against the group in Syria.
Meanwhile, a Moscow official said Saturday that there will be no emergency evacuation for the nearly 80,000 Russians currently vacationing in Egypt, and tourists can return home when they want.
“Nearly 80,000 tourists are in Egypt,” Irina Tyurina, a spokeswoman for the Russian Union of the Tourism Industry, told AFP after a government meeting. “There will be no evacuation,” she added.
Russia halted flights to Egypt on Friday amid growing fears that the jet was bombed. Empty planes are being sent to Egypt to bring Russian holidaymakers home, but they will be able to return at their own pace.