Putin vows to hunt down, punish those who bombed jet

Associated Press

MOSCOW

A somber President Vladimir Putin vowed to hunt down and punish those responsible for a bomb that brought down a Russian passenger jet last month, “wherever they are hiding.” Intensified Russian airstrikes Tuesday hit the Islamic State group’s stronghold in Syria that also is being pounded by the French military.

Russia’s FSB security service confirmed for the first time that a homemade bomb caused the Oct. 31 crash of the Metrojet Airbus 321-200 in Egypt’s Sinai Desert and killed all 224 people aboard in what it called “a terrorist act.” The Islamic state already claimed responsibility, saying it was punishing Moscow for its air campaign in Syria.

With Russia striking IS targets in reprisal for the Metrojet downing, France hitting militants in response to the attacks on civilians in Paris last week and the ongoing U.S.-led coalition bombings, the extremists were facing a stepped-up assault from at least three military powers. But the Kremlin said it was too soon to call it a de facto alliance.

Putin heard the report on the Metrojet bombing at a late-night meeting of his security advisers in the Kremlin that was shown on national TV. He and his advisers stood for moment of silence for those who died on the plane, mostly Russian vacationers flying from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to St. Petersburg.

A subdued Putin called it “one of the bloodiest crimes,” and promised retribution for “the murder of our people in Sinai. We will not wipe away the tears from our souls and our hearts. This will stay with us forever,” he said.

The FSB offered a $50 million reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible, and Putin said Russia would be relentless in its pursuit.

Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail said his government was informed Tuesday of the results of the Russian investigation, and he shied away from endorsing its conclusion that a bomb was to blame.