A suspect in the the alleged bombing of a Russian airliner over Egypt has a cousin who joined Islamic State, according to a Friday Reuters report.
Anonymous sources claim the suspect, an EgyptAir mechanic, has been detained by security officials for his alleged role in the October crash. A pair of policeman and a baggage handler are also suspected of helping smuggle a bomb onto the plane. It is now believed that the mechanic’s cousin joined ISIS a year and a half ago.
Egyptian officials claimed in mid-December that their investigation has thus far found no evidence of terrorism.
“After learning that one of its members had a relative that worked at the airport, Islamic State [ISIS] delivered a bomb in a handbag to that person,” said a sources to Reuters.
“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,” said another source.
The downing of the Russian airliner occurred October 31 of last year and killed all 224 people on board. Russian authorities conducted an investigation and immediately claimed the event was a terrorist attack.
“We can say definitely that this was a terrorist act,” said Alexander Bortnikov of Russia’s Federal Security Bureau after the Russian investigation was completed November 17.
ISIS took responsibility for the alleged bombing shortly after it occurred.
“The fighters of the Islamic State were able to down a Russian plane over Sinai province that was carrying over 220 Russian crusaders. They were all killed, thanks be to God,” according to a statement by Aamaq, a semi-official ISIS news agency that circulated on Twitter.
On November 19 of last year, ISIS published a picture of what it claims to be the bomb used to bring down the Russian plane. Based on the picture, the device was comprised of a small explosive inserted into an innocuous-looking soda can.
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