U.S. tightens security further on Asian flights<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON (Reuter): The United States has ordered U.S.
\nairlines to further tighten security on flights in East Asia in
\nresponse to bomb threats directed at these flights, the Federal
\nAviation Administration (FAA) said on Sunday.<\/p>\n
FAA spokeswoman Liz Neblet said the \"unusually strong
\nmeasures\" included increased searches of passengers and luggage
\nand a ban on gels, liquids and aerosols over one ounce -- such as
\ntoothpastes and shaving creams -- in carry-on luggage.<\/p>\n
Such substances could possibly conceal a hard-to-detect liquid
\nbomb, sources said.<\/p>\n
The FAA first ordered U.S. airlines to increase security on
\nJan. 10, after receiving reports from the Philippine government
\nthat Moslem fundamentalists planned to put bombs on U.S. airlines
\nflying to and from East Asia.<\/p>\n
The U.S. State Department on Saturday issued a new statement
\nsaying Washington had decided to intensify security even more
\nafter receiving \"further, more detailed information concerning
\nthese bomb threats\".<\/p>\n
But it stopped short of issuing an advisory warning passengers
\nagainst traveling or canceling any flights, saying, \"The
\nincreased security measures put in place are considered adequate
\nto counter these threats.\"<\/p>\n
CBS News reported late on Sunday the increased security
\nmeasures were causing delays at airports in Manila, Bangkok,
\nSingapore, Hong Kong, Taipei, Seoul and Tokyo, and officials were
\nconsidering whether to expand the security measures to two dozen
\nadditional Asian airports.<\/p>\n
Neblet declined comment on the airports affected saying that
\nwas a security matter. But she denied a CBS report that two
\naircraft were forced to land to undergo searches, saying any
\ndecision to land would have been taken by the airlines.<\/p>\n
The State Department said that as an additional step to
\nprotect U.S. and other travelers, the FAA had advised foreign
\nairlines that fly to the United States from East Asia of the
\nthreats and of the additional security measures being performed
\nby U.S. airlines.<\/p>\n
\"We understand the additional security measures will cause
\ntravelers some inconvenience. However, we believe they are
\nnecessary to ensure passengers maximum possible security,\" it
\nsaid in a statement.<\/p>\n
A U.S. embassy spokesman in Manila on Saturday said Washington
\nhad flown bomb experts to Manila and other parts of Asia to guard
\nagainst the reported plot by Moslem militants.<\/p>\n
The Philippine warning followed the arrest in Manila of at
\nleast three people. Security officials had refused to give any
\ndetails or say whether alleged threats against the Pope, also
\nreported last week, and U.S. aircraft were linked.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-tightens-security-further-on-asian-flights-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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