Russia says bomb was definitely responsible for plane crash in Egypt

Russia finally confirmed that a bomb was responsible for the plane crash that left 224 people dead last month. "Traces of foreign explosives" were found on the debris of the Russian A321 airliner, which scattered all over the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt after exploding midair on October 31.

"We can say definitely that this was a terrorist act," the head of the Federal Security Service told Russia's Security Council, according to the New York Times. He added that Russia was unable to confirm that ISIS — which claimed it had carried out the attack immediately — was responsible, but the government is offering $50 million for any information about the attack.

%shareLinks-quote="British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said there was a "high probability" that ISIS was responsible for the attack last week. " type="spreadWord"%

"It may have been an individual who was inspired by ISIS who was self-radicalized by looking at ISIS propaganda and was acting in the name of ISIS without necessarily being directed," he said.

See photos of the Russian plane crash in Egypt wreckage and aftermath:

U.S. intelligence officials already suspected that the plane had been brought down by a bomb. Two weeks ago, President Obama said, "I think there is a possibility that there was a bomb on board and we're taking that very seriously." Russian officials originally scoffed at the idea that a bomb may have gotten on the plane. Egypt has also been reticent to admit or agree that an explosion brought the plane down, given the injury it could cause to the tourism industry. Most airlines have stopped flights to Sharm el-Sheikh, the resort town that the downed plane was returning from, already.

The bomb contained about two pounds of TNT.

After the announcement, Putin gave remarks that were broadcast nationally. "We will search for them everywhere, no matter where they are hiding," he said. "We will find them in any place on the planet and will punish them." The Kremlin also announced that it will start conducting more air strikes in Syria. Putin said that the air strikes "must be intensified so that the criminals understand that retribution is inevitable."

RELATED GALLERY: Russia mourns the 224 victims of the fatal crash

More from the Daily Intelligencer:
Obama on Political Correctness: 'A Recipe for Dogmatism'
What Lives on the Subway Pole?
GOP to Drop Planned Parenthood Fight