UK joins US in banning electronic devices on flights from Middle East

The UK has joined the US in imposing restrictions on carry-on electronic devices on planes coming from certain airports in Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East and North Africa in response to unspecified security threats.

Passengers traveling from a specific list of airports could not bring into the main cabin devices that are larger than a mobile phone such as tablets, portable DVD players, laptops and cameras.

Instead, such items must be in checked baggage.

A spokesman for British Prime Minister Theresa May said that there would be curbs on electronic items in the main cabin on flights from six countries in the Middle East. The foreign office said the measures would be implemented by 25 March.

Read: US ban forbids passengers on Middle Eastern airlines from carrying electronic devices

The moves were prompted by reports that militant groups want to smuggle explosive devices inside electronic gadgets, US officials told reporters yesterday.

French and Canadian officials said they were examining their arrangements but neither government was taking additional security measures at this stage.

Britain said its restrictions would apply to direct flights from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.