Isis releases audio message claiming it downed Russian plane in Sinai, says it will reveal method ‘soon’

The message challenges Egyptian authorities to ‘prove’ Isis didn’t do it – but officials question the militant group's claims

Adam Withnall@adamwithnall
Wednesday 04 November 2015 12:12
0 comments
The debris of the Russian airliner which is being examined by Russian and Egyptian experts
The debris of the Russian airliner which is being examined by Russian and Egyptian experts

Isis’s militant branch in the Sinai Peninsula has released an audio message claiming it brought down the crashed Russian Metrojet plane - and challenging Egyptian authorities to “prove we did not”.

Wilayat Sinai (Sinai Province) said it would reveal its modus operandi in due course, in a recording entitled: “We downed it, so die in your rage”.

Some experts have questioned the militant group's claim of responsibility, pointing out it has failed to provide any proof. The Amaq news website, which publishes information from Isis sources, reported Isis’s original claim within hours of the plane coming down.

Officials have poured scorn on suggestions the crash was an attack carried out by Isis, with the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi describing such claims as “propaganda”.

Egypt: Russian crash investigators search Sinai for victims' belongings

Wednesday’s audio message was believed to carry the voice of Wilayat Sinai’s Abu Osama al-Masri, who has made recordings for the group in the past.

In it, Mr Masri claims the group will reveal “soon” how they downed the plane, and points to the fact the crash occurred a year after the group first pledged its allegiance to Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Comments

Share your thoughts and debate the big issues

Learn more

Delete Comment

Are you sure you want to delete this comment?

Report Comment

Are you sure you want to mark this comment as inappropriate?

Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines.

  • You may not agree with our views, or other users’, but please respond to them respectfully
  • Swearing, personal abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory or inciteful language is not acceptable
  • Do not impersonate other users or reveal private information about third parties
  • We reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending users without notification

You can find our Community Guidelines in full here.

Create a commenting name to join the debate

Create a commenting name to join the debate

  • Newest first
  • Oldest first
  • Most liked

There are no Independent Premium comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts

Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines.

  • You may not agree with our views, or other users’, but please respond to them respectfully
  • Swearing, personal abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory or inciteful language is not acceptable
  • Do not impersonate other users or reveal private information about third parties
  • We reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending users without notification

You can find our Community Guidelines in full here.

Create a commenting name to join the debate

Create a commenting name to join the debate

  • Newest first
  • Oldest first
  • Most liked

There are no comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts