Russian security service: Bomb on the Sinai plane

The Russian security service FSB now confirms that the plane crash in Egypt was caused by a bomb.

The FSB has found explosive remnants on the wreckage from the aircraft, reports Reuters.

- One can without a doubt say that this is an act of terrorism, says FSB's head Alexander Bortnikov.

Bortnikov told a news conference that FSB analysts had concluded that the plane was detonated by a homemade bomb consisting of a kilogram of TNT explosives.

$ 50 million reward

President Vladimir Putin has ordered special forces to find those responsible for what Russia now calls an act of terrorism.

- We will look for them everywhere, no matter where they hide.

We will find them wherever they are on the planet and will punish them, Putin said according to TT.

In addition, a reward of 50 million dollars, approximately 435 million kronor, was issued to those who contribute information about who is behind the plane crash.

Not said straight out

This is the first time Russia has stated outright that this is an act of terrorism, according to SVT's Russia correspondent Fredrik Svenningsson.

"Ever since Russia stopped flights to Sharm el-Sheikh, the authorities have suspected and assumed that this was an act of terrorism.

It has been more and more clear in comments that this is what one starts from - but no one has said it outright, says Fredrik Svenningsson.

224 people died when Metrojet's Airbus A321 crashed in Sinai on 31 October.

The plane flew for only 23 minutes before crashing into the Sinai Desert.

Most were Russian citizens.

17 of the victims were children.

"Probable revenge action"

Now there will probably be some form of revenge action from Russia, Fredrik Svenningsson thinks.

- One can expect some form of counter-attack from the Russian side, because one is in the habit, for example, of domestic terrorism to strike very, very hard.

We can probably count on there being an expectation in Russia that those who have done this will be punished, he says.

Putin said in connection with the FSB's statement that Russia must intensify its airstrikes in Syria.

"Criminals must realize that revenge is inevitable," Putin said.

Later in the day, there were reports in several media that Russia had carried out a series of bombings in Syria, both from ships and from the air.

Russia also announced the launch of 25 long-range strategic bombers against IS.

The Islamic State (IS) has previously claimed responsibility for the crash, but has not yet explained how the organization proceeded.

"Very credible information"

Fredrik Svenningsson emphasizes that the information comes from the security service FSB and not from any public accident report.

- The FSB can publish information exactly how they want.

It is impossible for others to confirm that the information is correct.

But I would rate this information as very credible.

Just over a week ago, information was leaked from the Egyptian crash investigation, where a source said that the investigators were 90 percent sure that a bomb had exploded on the plane.