Egypt admits Sinai plane crash was a terrorist act

Following months of silence, the Egyptian authorities have acknowledged that terrorists were responsible for the downing of a Russian jet liner that was targeted over the Sinai Peninsula in October 2015, killing 224 people. At the time, a local group affiliated with ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Egyptian authorities refused to comment on this, arguing that observers would have to wait for the official report into the investigation. It is unclear if this has been completed, however President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said during a speech on the issue that the attackers had been looking to undermine not only Egypt’s tourism industry, but also its relations with Russia.

CAIRO — After months of cautious silence, Egypt acknowledged for the first time on Wednesday that terrorists had downed the Russian jetliner that broke up over the Sinai Peninsula in the fall.

The authorities made the unexpected admission after strongly urging Egyptians and the world for months to await the results of an international investigation Egypt is leading. The crash dealt a serious blow to Egypt’s vital tourism industry: an important source of hard currency for the country, which relies heavily on imports.

“Those who downed the flight, what were they hoping for? Just to hit tourism?” President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi asked, almost casually, while on the subject of terrorism near the end of a long speech about the country’s development plans for 2030, which was broadcast live. “No, but also to hit relations. To hit relations with Russia.”

Hours after the October downing of the Airbus A321-200, which killed 224 people, Egypt’s local Islamic State affiliate claimed responsibility. The group said it had brought down the plane with a bomb concealed in a soda can.