Sharm el-Sheikh flights cancelled
British Airways and EasyJet cancel all flights between Sharm el-Sheikh and the UK until next month following the bombing of a Russian passenger jet. Easyjet says the move was made to provide some certainty to passengers travelling over the Christmas period. BA says the decision was made following discussions with the UK government.
Shows IED picture
ISIS publishes a photo of the bomb which brought down the Russian jetliner, disguised as a drinks can, in Dabiq magazine.
The divided Crusaders of the East and West thought themselves safe in their jets as they cowardly bombarded the Muslims of the Caliphate. And so revenge was exacted upon those who felt safe in the cockpits…This was to show the Russians and whoever allies with them that they will have no safety in the lands and airspace of the Muslims. That their daily killing of dozens in (Syria) through their air strikes will only bring them calamities.
Offers $50 million reward
At a Kremlin meeting, President Putin offers a $50 million reward for information leading to those responsible for the downing of the jet.
We will find them anywhere on the planet and punish them.
Bortnikov, the head of Russia’s FSB security service, says traces of foreign-made explosive had been found on fragments of the downed plane and on passengers’ personal belongings, and that the bomb probably contained around 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of TNT:
You can definitely say that this is a terrorist act.
Russia destroys 448 ISIS targets
Through the last three days, Russia has been targeting and destroying key ISIS facilities in Syria. Kremlin has been using airstrikes to target key terrorist facilities. At least 448 facilities have been destroyed throughout the country. A Kremlin spokesman warned that Russia’s ongoing campaign has meant terrorists have changed their tactics
ISIS releases video claiming revenge
Five ISIS jihadists are seen in a video praising militants in the Sinai Peninsula for allegedly bringing down the Russian A321 passenger jet with 224 people on board. A Slavic-looking man wielding a knife, speaking both in Russian and Arabic, addresses President Vladimir Putin, warning the Russian leader that he would regret targeting ISIS in Syria. He threatens to continue taking down planes, invading countries, and killing people in retaliation for Russia’s military operation in Syria. Russia and Egypt say the group doesn’t possess the means to shoot down a plane.
Plane crashes, 224 dead
Metrojet Flight 9268, an Airbus A321, travelling from Sharm-el-Sheikh to St. Petersburg crashes around 25 minutes into its flight, in a remote area of Egypt’s Sinai peninsula, killing all 224 people on board. Most of the victims are Russian tourists, returning home from vacation. According to the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there were 214 Russian and three Ukrainian passengers aboard. 25 children are among the dead