Global General
France to introduce body scanners at airports
(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-01-08 20:52
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 A security official (R) prepares to scan his colleague posing inside a RapiScan full-body scanner being trialled by Manchester Airport, during a photocall at the airport, in Manchester, northern England January 7, 2010. [Photo/Agencies] |
PARIS: France will use body scanners at some of its airports, initially to search passengers heading to the United States, Transport Secretary Dominique Bussereau told Europe 1 radio on Friday.
France said it would tighten security measures at its airports after a failed attempt to blow up a US plane heading for Detroit on Christmas day.
Bussereau said the first scanners would be used "certainly for flights to the United States and the most sensitive flights to start with" and said there may be six or seven scanners at the beginning.
He said he was unable to give exact dates as the authority was still discussing the scanners' location in the airports, staff training and how to respect passengers' privacy.
Washington has asked other countries to improve their aviation security technology after the failed attack highlighted US intelligence and security faults.
Canada, the Netherlands and Britain have said they plan to use body scanners. Italy is considering them and Nigeria, the country of origin of the man who tried to blow up the Detroit-bound flight from Amsterdam, will install them.
