Trump: EgyptAir disappearance a likely 'terrorist attack'
AFP
May 19, 2016 23:29 MYT
May 19, 2016 23:29 MYT
Trump speaks during a rally May 5, 2016 in Charleston, West Virginia. He has labelled the EgyptAir tragedy as "yet another terrorist attack." - AFP Photo
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said Thursday that the possible crash of an EgyptAir passenger jet from Paris to Cairo appeared to be "yet another terrorist attack."
The Airbus A320 was flying at 37,000 feet (11,000 meters) when it disappeared from radar about 130 nautical miles off the Greek island of Karpathos.
"Looks like yet another terrorist attack. Airplane departed from Paris," Trump posted on Twitter.
"When will we get tough, smart and vigilant? Great hate and sickness!"
The billionaire real estate mogul's tweet came at 1027 GMT, shortly after reports quoting experts who said a terrorist attack was a likely scenario for the disappearance, but about three hours before Egypt's aviation minister Sherif Fathy told reporters that terrorism was a possibility.
Trump has routinely called for a stronger crackdown on "radical Islamic terrorism." He has stirred controversy with his provocative statements about Muslims, including his call for a ban on Muslims entering the United States.
National security is a prominent issue in the 2016 US presidential campaign, with Trump saying President Barack Obama's administration has enabled extremism by showing a lack of international leadership.
Last week Trump told Fox News he was considering setting up a commission that would take a "very serious look at this problem" of radical Islamic terrorism if he were elected.