Security at Egypt’s Sharm El Sheikh Airport Comes Under Scrutiny After Russian

Leaders from both the United States and Great Britain said Thursday that they were exploring the possibility that a bomb brought down a Russian airliner over Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, killing all 224 aboard.

The BBC and the Times newspaper said that British investigators were looking at the possibility that a bomb had been placed on board by a member of the airport ground staff prior to take-off. “And we’re taking that very seriously”, said Obama in an interview with a radio station that was quoted by TV network CNN.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said that nothing can be ruled out, “including terrorist involvement”.

On October 31, a Russian airliner carrying 224 people crashed in the Sinai Peninsula while flying from the Egyptian resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh en route to St. Petersburg. “The investigation team does not have yet any evidence or data confirming this hypothesis”, Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation Hossam Kamal said. Russian officials are not drawing any conclusions ahead of the investigation.

“But if the intelligence and the judgment are that that is a more likely than not outcome, then I think it’s right to act in the way that I did”, he added, in reference to Britain’s decision to suspended all flights to and Sharm el-Sheikh.

Belgium on Thursday advised its citizens against travelling to Sharm el-Sheikh amid concerns over airport security at the Egyptian resort following the crash of a Russian passenger jet.

ANDY RAIN/EPA Cameron (l.) welcomes Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (r.) to his office where the two will discuss the 20,000 British tourists that remain stuck at the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Earlier Thursday, British Prime Minister David Cameron said it is “more likely than not” that a bomb brought down Metrojet Flight 9268. “Australian travellers affected by delays to flights from Sharm el Sheikh are advised to contact their airline or travel agent for the latest information on flight disruptions and on airline plans to reschedule departures”, she said.

“We are working with the UK Government to work out the basis upon which easyJet can fly passengers in Sharm el-Sheikh back home”, the easyJet statement said.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said if Britain had information about the bomb, it was “really shocking” it hasn’t shared it with Russia, the Russian news agency ITAR-TASS reported.

Egypt, which is highly dependent on tourism, has said Britain’s decision to suspend flights is unjustified.