The Russian passenger plane crash in Egypt on October 31, killing all 224 people on board, was caused by a terrorist attack, the head of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), Alexander Bortnikov, said during a meeting chaired by President Vladimir Putin.
"We can unequivocally say that it was a terrorist act," Interfax cited him as saying.
According to preliminary data, an improvised bomb with a capacity of 1 kg of TNT exploded on board the Russian A321 aircraft when it was mid-air. Such a conclusion was made after the examination of all the objects in the aircraft, where the experts have found traces of an explosive substance.
President Vladimir Putin, in his turn, said that the criminals responsible for the crash will be found in any part of planet and punished. "The killing of our people in Sinai is among the most bloody crimes judging by the number of victims. And we won't wipe our tears from our hearts and souls. It will remain with us forever. But it won't stop us from finding and punishing the criminals," the Russian leader said.
Putin also urged the international community to find and punish the terrorists. "We will act in accordance with the UN Charter's Article 51, which gives each country the right to self-defense," he added.
The Russian army's Supreme Commander-in-Chief instructed to intensify the Russian military's operation in Syria. "Our air operations in Syria should not only continue but intensify. It should be strengthened so that the criminals realize that retribution is inevitable," the president of Russia concluded.
The PR service of the FSB reported that a $50 million reward is offered for information leading to the killers. The Russian secret services have already taken measures to trace the organizers and perpetrators of the attack.
