Statement: Message of condolence from President Juncker on the Sinai plane crash

An Airbus A321 plane from the Russian company Kogalymavia, connecting Egypt's Sharm El-Sheik and Russia's St Petersburg crashed on 31 October 2015, killing 224 people on board. It was still unclear what the reasons were behind the tragedy.

The president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker released a condolence message regarding the tragic event.

Militants known as Sinai Province and linked to the Islamic State group (IS) said they had downed the plane, but have not said how. While this was initially dismissed by Egyptian and Russian authorities, US and UK intelligence subsequently suggested that there was evidence that a bomb placed on board the plane had been the cause of the accident.

IS had called for a war against both Russia and the US over their air strikes in Syria.

• Primary Source

Council of the European Union: Statement, 31.10.15: Statement by European Council President Donald Tusk on the crashed Russian aircraft in Sinai http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/10/31-pec-tusk-condolences-sinai/

EurActiv, 01.11.15: Russia grounds A321 fleet after Sinai crash http://www.euractiv.com/sections/transport/russia-grounds-a321-fleet-after-sinai-crash-319075

Politico, 02.11.15: Russian airline blames crash on ‘external’ factors http://www.politico.eu/article/russian-airline-blames-crash-on-external-factors-sinai-flight/

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 06.11.15: Sinai Crash: A bomb on board? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER172827-Sinai-Crash-A-bomb-on-board

BBC News, 07.11.15: Russian plane crash: Egypt says intelligence not shared http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-34755443

Deutsche Welle, 06.11.15: Russian calm before the storm http://dw.com/p/1H13d

ESO: Background information: Putin’s Gamble in Syria / Russia's Military Intervention in Syria Makes It a Key Regional Player / Russia, Syria and the West: Mutually Assured Frustration http://www.europeansources.info/record/putins-gamble-in-syria-russias-military-intervention-in-syria-makes-it-a-key-regional-player-russia-syria-and-the-west-mutually-assured-frustration/

France24, 06.11.15: Russia’s Putin suspends all flights to Egypt on security advice http://www.france24.com/en/20151106-russia-suspends-flights-egypt-britain

Politico, 06.11.15: How Sisi failed to stop terror in Egypt http://www.politico.eu/article/sisi-failed-stop-terror-egypt-airplane-crash-isil/

Euro|Topics: Who's saying what: Was the IS behind the Airbus crash? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/debatten/links-2015-11-is_airbus/

---