Laptop Ban Due to “Credible Terrorist Threat, Says US State Dept

US authorities are planning to ban passengers on certain US-bound foreign airline flights from eight Muslim majority countries from taking large electronic devices.

Washington, 23 Jumadil Akhir 1438/22 March 2017 (MINA) – The US State Department Tuesday confirmed that the Trump Administration’s announcement of a carry-on laptop ban is based on a “credible terrorist threat to commercial aviation.”

The ban, which goes into full effect Friday, would prohibit travelers from eight Muslim-majority countries from taking their laptops into the cabin with them on a flight.

According to KUNA, laptops, e-readers, cameras, tablets, printers, electronic games and portable DVD players are affected by the ban – which applies to direct flights to the US – but they may still be stowed in the hold in checked baggage.

They will be required to pack them in checked luggage.

The threat, State Department Acting Spokesperson Mark Toner told reporters, emanated from the 10 airports located in Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Terrorist groups “continue to target commercial aviation, and are pursuing new ways to carry out attacks. And that includes smuggling explosive devices in various consumer items,” he said.

The effort, he noted, is led by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

“Our diplomats in the affected countries spoke directly to the affected governments, including civil aviation authorities in those countries,” Toner said. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)