LAPTOPS BANNED ON BRIT FLIGHTS
Measure follows US clampdown on Mid East and Africa routes
PASSENGERS flying to Britain from the Middle East will be banned from carrying laptops and large electronic devices, it was announced last night.
Travellers from Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Tunisia, will be prevented from taking devices larger than mobile phones into the cabin.
It follows a similar ban by the US and sources said both orders stemmed in part from intelligence gathered during a recent US special forces raid in Yemen.
Both Isis and al-Qaeda have bases in the country.
Last night, Theresa May’s spokesman declined to say if the ban was prompted by any specific intelligence, while Washington cited only unspecified “threats”.
A spokesman for the UK Government said: “The safety and security of the travelling public is our highest priority. That is why we keep our aviation security under constant review and put in place measures we believe are necessary, effective and proportionate.
“The Prime Minister has chaired a number of meetings on aviation security over the last few weeks, including this morning, where it was agreed that new aviation security measures on all inbound direct flights to the UK from the following countries will be introduced – Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia.”
It is believed that the ban centres on fears that terrorists could use devices to trigger bombs.
The US measure affects flights from eight mainly Muslim countries in the Middle East and Africa.
Security on planes has been tight for many years following dozens of hijackings and bombings – including the 1988 Lockerbie bombing which killed 243 passengers and 16 crew.
A complete ban on taking liquids on board aircraft was brought in on August 10 2006 – the day after a terror plot gang planning to blow up transatlantic flights was arrested.
The members of the al-Qaedainspired cell planned to detonate home-made liquid bombs.
Lib Dem transport spokeswoman Jenny Randerson said: “Of course safety is paramount but this ban needs to be explained in detail. Serious questions remain unanswered. Like why the Government think it will work and why are these countries being singled out based on religious beliefs?
“We have seen time and again that terrorism comes from some of the unlikeliest sources.”
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “We understand the frustration that these measures may cause and we are working with the aviation industry to minimise any impact.”