Islamic State in Egypt claims it brought down Russian plane; 224 dead

Islamic State in Egypt claims it brought down Russian plane; 224 dead
Terror group hails success, although Sinai officials say technical failure led to crash; Putin dispatches investigators

By TIMES OF ISRAEL STAFF AND AP
October 31, 2015, 4:42 pm

The Islamic State terror group in Egypt claimed responsibility for bringing down a Russian passenger plane on Saturday carrying 224 people, according to Hebrew media.

IS in Egypt, formerly known as Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, published the claim of responsibility — as yet unconfirmed — hours after the plane, traveling from from the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh back to St. Petersburg, crashed in the Sinai Peninsula with 217 passengers and 7 crew members on board.

“The soldiers of the caliphate succeeded in bringing down a Russian plane in Sinai,” said the statement circulated on social media. “More than 220 Crusaders were on board. All were killed, praise God.”

There were no survivors in the crash.

Earlier, the Russian airline operating the plane, Kogalymavia, also known as Metrojet, said there were “no grounds” to blame human error, intimating that the incident may not have been an accident. Still, security sources in Sinai told Reuters that, according to an initial investigation, the plane crashed due to technical fault.

An Egyptian aviation official says the pilot of Metrojet Flight 7K9268 had reported technical difficulties and planned an emergency landing at the nearest airport before losing contact with Egyptian air traffic controllers and crashing. Ayman al-Muqadem, a member of the Aviation Incidents Committee, said the pilot had reported his intention to attempt to land at the nearest airport.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian emergency officials to fly immediately to the wreckage of the plane.

Meanwhile, Russian authorities raided the offices of Kogalymavia in Moscow, according to Reuters, and seized documents. The reason was not immediately clear.

A statement from Egypt’s Ministry of Civil Aviation said military search and rescue teams found the wreckage of the passenger jet in the Hassana area south of the city of Al-Arish, an area in northern Sinai where Egyptian security forces are fighting a burgeoning Islamic militant insurgency led by the local affiliate of the extremist Islamic State group.

The group is responsible for numerous attacks against Egyptian security services in the Sinai over the past two years.

Russia recently began its own aerial campaign against Syrian rebel groups, including IS, in war-torn Syria, in an effort to bolster its ally, Bashar Assad.

Militants in northern Sinai have not previously shot down commercial airliners or fighter-jets. They are said to have obtained Russian shoulder-fired, anti-aircraft missiles, which could be used against low-flying aircraft or helicopters. In January of last year, they claimed to have down an Egyptian military helicopter; Egypt confirmed a helicopter crash at the time.

Army Condemns Cowardly Attitude Of Soldiers Who Fled From Bokoharam

CHIEF of army staff Lt General Tukur Buratai has castigated troops of the Nigerian Army and called them cowardly for abandoning their weapons and fleeing in the face of a Boko Haram attack at Geidam in Yobe State.

Last week, Boko Haram terrorists attacked the town killing dozens in a bloody Fun, forcing local resident to flee. Lt General Buratai was unhappy about the fact that Geidam had a unit of soldiers' posters there who should have been able to fend off the attack but in the face of enemy fire they fled.

Speaking in Lagos during his maiden tour of units and commands under the 81st Division of the Nigerian Army, Lt General Buratai emphasised the need for a serious review of the attitude of the troops towards the ongoing war. He noted that despite having the necessary weapons and equipment that will enable them protect themselves, civilians and properties, the soldiers in Geidam did not attack the insurgents.

Lt General Buratai said: “Two, three days back, I was in Geidam and the attitude of our troops calls for a serious review because they have the equipment, weapons and everything they require to protect themselves and indeed citizens that are there. However, they just went and sat down without adopting the proper battle procedures.

“I have given them very strong warning and some of you may find yourselves around that area and if you go there, you must behave very professionally. You must apply all the battle principles that you have been taught and deploy the weapons and equipment properly.”

He added that he had to go to Geidam after the Boko Haram attack to see things for himself, assuring that the loopholes are being addressed. According to General Buratai, immediately after  his visit, Boko Haram attempted to move into Geidam but the soldiers stood up and conquered that attack and pursued them and the terrorists have been on the run ever since.

Lt General Buratai also warned army personnel to remain apolitical, stressing that their moves were being monitored and anyone found romancing politicians will be dealt with accordingly. He also insisted that the December deadline given by President Muhammadu Buhari for the military to end Boko Haram was achievable.