ISIS claims responsibility for downed Russian airliner

Terror Monitor, an online terrorist monitoring organisation, claims to have a statement from Islamic State militants claiming responsibility for the attack.

The group, which watches terrorist groups around the world, tweeted an image of the Arabic statement and wrote: “#IslamicState (#ISIS) terror group claims downing of Russian aircraft in #Sinai.”

The unverified statement, written in Arabic, says the flight crash was NOT a technical fault, as reported by security sources.

More than 150 bodies, including five children, have already been pulled from the wreckage.

There were 217 passengers, including 17 children on the flight.

Read also: Russian airliner with 224 people crashes in Egypt

There were also 138 women and 62 men. Three were Ukrainian with the rest Russian.

The jet, operated by Russian airline Kogalymavia was an Airbus A-321 and is said to have fallen vertically, which led to its bursting into flames.

Russia has declared tomorrow a day of mourning.

Vladimir Putin has launched a severe air strike campaign against Islamic State in Syria over the last couple of weeks.

Russian security forces claim to have destroyed 1,600 ISIS targets.

Credit: UK Express

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