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Mechanic Suspected In Downing Of Russian Passenger Plane Over Egypt


Reuters is reporting that an EgyptAir mechanic whose cousin joined the Islamic State militant group in Syria is suspected of planting a bomb on a Russian passenger plane that was blown out of Egypt's skies in late October.

So far, Egypt has publicly said it has found no evidence that the MetroJet flight, which crashed in the Sinai Peninsula after takeoff from Sharm el-Sheikh airport, killing all 224 people on board, was brought down by terrorism.

A senior security official at the airline denied that any of its employees had been arrested or were under suspicion, and an Interior Ministry official also said there had been no arrests.

But sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on January 29 that the mechanic had been detained, along with two airport policemen and a baggage handler suspected of helping him put the bomb on board.

Based on reporting by Reuters

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