Web Desk
Australia today said, it will increase security checks for flights from some Middle East airports, but stopped short of implementing the laptop ban introduced by the United States and Britain.
Transport Minister Darren Chester said in a statement that explosive detection screening will be conducted for randomly selected passengers and their baggage. Checks may also include targeted screening of electronic devices.
He said, these changes are in line with the UK, which recently announced that people travelling from Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai will be subject to random explosive trace detection screening. However, there is no ban on the carriage of electronic devices on flights to Australia at this stage, the minister added. Increased security checks will hit passengers flying direct to Australia from UAE.
Britain and the US banned laptops and tablet computers in cabins on flights from some countries in the West Asia and North Africa earlier this month, citing fears of possible attacks.