"London: Citing an unnamed official, CNN has reported that United States intelligence now believes
the Russian plane that crashed in Egypt was brought down by a bomb planted by Islamic State or an affiliate.
We have become concerned that the plane may well have been brought down by an explosive device.
Spokesman for UK PM David Cameron
CNN said the official familiar with the matter based their view on the latest US intelligence, but said the US intelligence community had not yet reached a formal conclusion on the cause of the crash, which killed all 224 people on board.
Russian investigators stand near debris, luggage and personal effects at the crash site.
Photo: Amr Nabil
"There is a definite feeling it was an explosive device planted in luggage or somewhere on the plane," CNN quoted the official as saying.
The revelation from the US comes as the British government said on Wednesday that it had suspended flights from the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh over concerns that the jet that crashed in the Sinai Peninsula on Saturday "may well have been brought down by an explosive device".
The statement by 10 Downing Street said the cause of the crash remained under investigation, and that British aviation experts were en route to Sharm el-Sheikh "to make an assessment of the security arrangements in place at the airport and to identify whether any further action is required."
Russian plane crash: Metrojet aircraft brought down by Islamic State bomb, says US report