Bomb that downed Russian plane in Egypt placed in main cabin: report

Source close to investigation of crash says epicenter of explosion appears to have been at the rear of the cabin

MOSCOW: A bomb that downed a Russian plane in Egypt last month had been placed in the aircraft's main cabin not in the cargo compartment as reported earlier, the daily Kommersant said on Wednesday citing an unnamed source.

The newspaper, citing a source close to the investigation of the crash, said the epicenter of the explosion appeared to have been at the rear of the cabin near the tail section.



"According to a preliminary version, the bomb could have been laid under the passenger seat by the window. Its operation has led to the destruction of the frame and depressurization of the cabin, which had an explosive character," the newspaper said.

All 224 people on board were killed. President Vladimir Putin vowed on Tuesday to hunt down those responsible and intensified air strikes against militants in Syria.

Putin pledged to hunt down and ‘punish’ those behind the attack but did not blame any specific group as he ordered an intensification of Moscow’s campaign in Syria, vowing ‘vengeance’.



Russia’s security agency announced a $50-million (47 million-euro) reward for information leading to the capture of those behind the attack but Egypt said investigators had yet to reach their conclusion about what brought down the Airbus jet.

Cairo said it was enhancing security in airports around the country over the possibility that the Russian plane that crashed in the Sinai peninsula shortly after leaving Sharm el Sheikh resort on October 31 might have been destroyed by a bomb.