US boosts security for international travellers 6-9 (Roundup)

Jan 4, 2010, 3:16 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. Ten other countries of interest whose citizens will face additional security are: Afghanistan, Algeria, Lebanon, Libya, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen, officials told the New York Times.

Amid the heightened security concerns, Newark International Airport in New Jersey was under lockdown after a man reportedly passed through the exit of a security checkpoint without being screened, US media reports said.

The Federal Aviation Administration said on its website that the airport's terminal C had experienced a security breach.

All passengers who had already passed through the security check point were forced to leave the terminal and were being rescreened, CNN reported. No flights were leaving the terminal.

Airport security reviewed surveillance tapes, but man had not been located, Fox News reported. It was unclear whether he posed a legitimate security threat.