Russia Says Bomb Destroyed Airliner Over Egypt

Russian investigators have told President Vladimir Putin's government that explosives have been detected amid the wreckage of the Metrojet airliner that crashed down onto Egypt's Sinai Peninsula in pieces at the end of October, proving it was a "terrorist" act.

U.S. and other Western officials have maintained for weeks that it was likely a bomb that blew the Russian plane apart about 25 minutes after it took off from the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh on Oct. 31.

"After tests of the personal items and elements of the aircraft, examination has revealed traces of explosives on the (Airbus) A321," the head of Russia's premier intelligence agency, the FSS, told the emergency meeting of the Russian Security Council.

Alexander Bortnikov said an "improvised, home-made bomb" containing as much as 1.6 pounds of TNT, tore through the plane.

The attack -- claimed by ISIS and belived by intelligence officials to have been the group's work -- killed all 224 people on board. 

President Putin has vowed to find and hold accountable those responsible for the attack.

Bortnikov said Russia was offering a $50 million reward for information leading to those who might have been involved in the attack on the plane.