US boosts security for international travellers

Jan 4, 2010, 0:10 GMT

Washington - The United States Sunday announced tougher security measures on international passengers flying to the US from certain countries after a failed attempted to blow up an airliner on Christmas Day.

Travellers arriving from or travelling through nations on a government list of state sponsors of terrorism or other countries of interest will be subject to mandatory enhanced security screenings, such as pat downs and more thorough luggage screening, the Transportation Safety Administration said.

In addition, all travellers on international flights will randomly face the more thorough screenings, the agency said. The measures will take effect Monday.

The move is a response to heightened terrorism concerns after Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, allegedly smuggled PETN explosives onto a December 25 flight from Amsterdam and tried to ignite the powder as the plane was descending into Detroit.

The State Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism comprises Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria.