US suspends Sinai flights over fears of Russia jet bomb

The UK has suspended flights over the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt due to fears that a Russian jet may have been brought down by an explosive device.

Prime Minister David Cameron's office says British aviation experts are travelling to the Sinai resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, where the flight on Saturday originated from, to assess security before British flights there will be allowed to leave.

Cameron's office at Downing St. says "we have become concerned that the plane may well have been brought down by an explosive device."

The crash in the Sinai killed all 224 people on the Metrojet Airbus plane.

Egypt's Islamic State group affiliate has allegedly reiterated its claim to have downed the plane.

In an audio recording circulated among militant supporters online Wednesday, a speaker said the crash coincided with the anniversary of the group's pledge of allegiance to the IS group. The dates of the crash and the pledge roughly coincide according to the Islamic calendar.

Experts say the militants lack the sophisticated arms needed to shoot down a plane at cruising altitude. The speaker did not say how the militants brought down the jet.

The AP could not independently verify the recording but it resembled previous statements issued by the group.

The U.S.-based SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadi websites, picked up the recording and circulated a translation.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said an earlier IS claim was "propaganda" aimed at damaging Egypt's image.
 

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