U.S. officials believe last weekend’s Russian plane crash was caused by a bomb planted on the airliner, possibly by the Islamic State, according to reports Wednesday afternoon.
“There is a definite feeling it was an explosive device planted in luggage or somewhere on the plane,” one U.S. official told CNN.
The investigation is ongoing, but that analysis would coincide with intelligence outlined by the British government on Wednesday. The crash killed 224 people on board, including the flight staff and pilots.
The State Department on Wednesday refused to comment on the reports.
“We’re going to decline to comment on this ongoing investigation,” said spokesman John Kirby. “I won’t comment on intelligence matters one way or the other.”
