iPad plot to down jets

Ban on gadgets in your hand luggage on flights to UK from six countries amid fears IS could sneak bombs past gate

BRITAIN last night took the dramatic step of banning laptops from the cabins of UK-bound flights from six countries, amid fears terrorists have perfected a new type of airline bomb.

The move, which is likely to spark travel chaos at affected airports, was imposed just hours after a similar ban was unveiled by the United States.

It comes amid fears that Islamic State, al Qaeda and other terror groups have developed the capability to hide a bomb in a laptop big enough to blow a hole in the side of a plane.

The ban, which will be phased in over the coming days, will affect travellers on direct flights to the UK from the popular holiday destination of Turkey, two north African countries – Egypt and Tunisia – and three Middle Eastern states: Lebanon, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.

Passengers will be banned from taking large electronic devices into the aircraft cabin, such as laptops, iPads, Kindles and Nintendo 3DS game consoles. Portable DVD players will also be banned.

The move, which is the biggest clampdown on airline security since the 2006 liquids ban, was ordered by Theresa May yesterday following talks with security officials. It follows weeks of discussions with the US security agencies about the growing threat of a laptop bomb.

The PM’s official spokesman declined to comment on the precise reason for the clampdown, but added: ‘ The safety and security of the travelling public are our highest priority.’ In February last year a bomb concealed in a laptop blew a hole in the side of an aircraft in Somalia.

But some security experts questioned the effectiveness of the rules. Labour said it was seeking ‘ urgent clarification’ of the thinking behind the restrictions. And the Liberal Democrats questioned why the UK was following President Trump in targeting majority Muslim countries.

The ban is expected to cause chaos as airlines and passengers struggle with the new rules.

Last night it was unclear what will happen to passengers who arrive at the gate with banned devices. Travellers who would otherwise have carried only hand luggage will be forced to pay extra fees for a checked bag if they want to use their gadgets at their destination.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling acknowledged that the restrictions would lead to ‘frustration’ for passengers, but said officials were working with air- lines to ‘ minimise any impact’. Travel trade organisation Abta warned that laptops and tablets are not typically covered by travel insurance policies for loss, damage or theft in the hold.

Air industry consultant John Strickland warned that the ban will cause ‘headaches for airlines and customers’ but said carriers had ‘no choice but to put security first’. He added: ‘One unexpected consequence will be the challenge of additional devices with lithium batteries being stowed in the holds, which brings its own challenges to safety.’

Government sources flatly denied that the decision to follow the US so quickly was designed to cosy up to Donald Trump and give succour to his controversial travel ban on Muslim majority countries. They declined to comment on why other EU countries have yet to impose similar curbs.

A former GCHQ officer said: ‘Jihadists can get hold of Semtex and C4 and store this in the laptop and get through the X-ray system. A suicide bomber would then sit by the window, and he would only need a small charge to blast the window to devastating effect.’

Asked why the US ban, which affects ten named airports in eight countries, differs from that imposed by the UK, the PM’s spokesman said ministers were confident the UK plans were ‘effective and proportionate’.

But Shashank Joshi, of security think-tank the Royal United Services Institute, said: ‘It is unclear why only some airlines and countries are affected, given that a potential attacker can easily re-route their journey.

‘Without clarification, this risks being seen as a form of pointless “security theatre” which causes great disruption with little benefit to aviation security.’

‘Headaches for airlines and customers’