U.S. tightens passenger screening for 14 countries
U.S.-bound air travellers from 14 countries considered either state sponsors of terrorism or “countries of interest” began facing tougher screening measures on Monday, prompted by the attempt to bomb a plane flying to Detroit last month.
The new rules mean that “every individual flying into the U.S. from anywhere in the world travelling from or through nations that are state sponsors of terrorism or other countries of interest will be required to go through enhanced screening,” the Transportation Security Administration said in a statement on Sunday.
The State Department lists Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria as state sponsors of terrorism. The countries of interest include Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen.
Passengers from those countries will now be subject to enhanced screening techniques including body scans, pat-downs and a thorough search of carry-on luggage.















