Britain's Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond says the UK government now think's there is a "significant possibility" that an explosive device brought down the Russian Metrojet plane that crashed in Egypt's Sinai peninsular on Saturday, killing all 224 people on board.
Mr Hammond said Britons were being advised not to travel through Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh airport. It comes amid concerns lax security could have enabled a bomb to have been placed on the doomed Russian flight.
Earlier Wednesday all British flights to and from the Red Sea resort were suspended. Irish authorities also put all flights to Sharm on hold.
Reports from the US say intelligence sources there also believe a bomb brought down the Russian Airbus 321.
Mr Hammond spoke after a top level security meeting in Downing Street chaired by Prime Minister David Cameron.
IN: As a result of that…
OUT: …the aircraft.
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CLIP: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1105crash-hammond1.mp3
Mr Hammond spoke after a top level security meeting in Downing Street chaired by Prime Minister David Cameron.
IN: Unfortunately…
OUT: …from now.
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Mr Hammond spoke after a top level security meeting in Downing Street chaired by Prime Minister David Cameron. He said those British tourists stranded at the resort would be helped to fly home.
IN: Passengers…
OUT: …resort itself".
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Mr Hammond expressed regret this move would have on Egypt's economy but said security concerns were paramount.
IN: I recognise…
OUT: …considerations.
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CLIP: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1105crash-hammond4.mp3