US to ban ‘large electronics’ on flights from eight countries

The US is banning ‘large electronic devices’ from the cabin baggage on flights from eight countries in the Middle East and North Africa, reports the BBC.

A US government source speaking to the BBC stated nine airlines operating out of 10 airports would be affected by the ban.

The barred devices include laptops, tablets, cameras, DVD players and electronic games. Mobile phones and medical devices are, however, exempt from the ban.

At least four of the affected airports are often used as a transit hub by Bangladeshi travellers to the US.

The BBC report cites a separate news agency which quoted an official saying the following ten airports would be affected:

·         Queen Alia International, Amman, Jordan

·         Cairo International Airport, Egypt

·         Ataturk Airport, Istanbul, Turkey

·         King Abdulaziz International, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

·         King Khalid International, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

·         Kuwait International Airport

·         Mohammed V International, Casablanca, Morocco

·         Hamad International, Doha, Qatar

·         Dubai International, United Arab Emirates

·         Abu Dhabi International, United Arab Emirates

According to Reuters, the new rule is expected to be announced Tuesday by the Department of Homeland Security and that it had been under consideration since the US government learned of a threat several weeks ago.

Officials said the decision was not related to President Donald Trump's travel ban on six majority-Muslim nations. A DHS spokeswoman told Reuters the US government "did not target specific nations. We relied upon evaluated intelligence to determine which airports were affected."

Officials did not explain why the restrictions only apply to travelers arriving in the United States and not for those same flights when they leave the United States.

The DHS said the measures would "remain in place until the threat changes" and would offer no comment as to whether it could be expanded.

In a statement it said the procedure "seeks to balance risk with impacts to the traveling public and has determined that cell phones and smart phones will be allowed in accessible property at this time."

The new restrictions were prompted by reports that terror groups want to smuggle explosive devices in consumer electronic devices, officials told reporters on a conference call Monday.

The government said in a statement it is "concerned about terrorists' ongoing interest in targeting commercial aviation, including transportation hubs over the past two years."

The group said "intelligence indicates that terrorist groups continue to target commercial aviation, to include smuggling explosive devices in various consumer items."

Reuters reported Monday that the move had been under consideration since the US government learned of a threat several weeks ago.