Putin declares revenge after Egypt plane bomb confirmation

President Vladimir Putin vowed payback following confirmation that a Russian airliner over Egypt blew up because of a bomb. The incident killed 224 people in light of intensifying airstrikes against terror groups in Syria.

The Russian president promised that he will hunt down and punish those responsible for the crash. He did not specify a group, but the Kremlin did order to intensify Moscow operations in Syria while declaring "vengeance."

"We will find them anywhere on the planet and punish them," Putin said during a sombre broadcast on Tuesday.

"Our air force's military work in Syria must not simply be continued," he added.

"It must be intensified in such a way that the criminals understand that retribution is inevitable."

Putin also instructed the Russian navy in the eastern Mediterranean to work with the French navy to coordinate sea and air operations. The Kremlin already let out cruise missiles and long-range bombers in Syria. Around 37 planes will also be added to the military force to intensify the campaign against terror groups.

Following the declaration, Russia’s Federal Security Service, the FSB, placed a US$50 million (approx. scAU$70 million) on the bombers of the plane. A global manhunt was also launched. Previously, Russia dismissed claims from Western regions that the October 31 crash was due to terrorism. The country maintained that an official investigation should be conducted before claiming anything. However, following the Paris terror attacks -- killing at least 129 people -- FSB head Alexander Bortnikov announced on television that there were traces of foreign-made explosive found on the plane's fragments.

"We can unequivocally say it was a terrorist act," said Bortnikov.

Egyptian authorities have been holding two Sharm al-Sheikh airport employees where the plane took off.

"Seventeen people are being held, two of them are suspected of helping whoever planted the bomb on the plane at Sharm al-Sheikh airport," one of the security officials said.

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