PARIS (AP) — France is warning that there could be delays this summer on flights headed to the United States. It is boosting security on those flights, amid U.S. concerns that al-Qaida is trying to develop a new kind of bomb that can get through airport security.
At Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris today, flights departing for the United States saw delays of 30 minutes to an hour.
French government officials aren’t offering any details on the security measures. The Obama administration this week asked for tighter security at foreign airports with direct flights to the United States. British airports boosted their security yesterday.
A U.S. counterterrorism official said this week that American intelligence has picked up indications that bomb makers from Yemen-based al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula have traveled to Syria to link up with the al-Qaida affiliate there.
One fear is that extremists with a U.S. or other Western passport could carry the new bomb onto a plane undetected by airport security.
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130-v-28-(Zerya Shakely (ZEHR’-yuh SHAK’-eh-lee), correspondent)–France is stepping up airport security amid concern al-Qaida is working on a new bomb. Correspondent Zerya Shakely reports. (4 Jul 2014)
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131-c-21-(Zerya Shakely (ZEHR’-yuh SHAK’-eh-lee), correspondent)-“U.S.-bound flights”-Zerya Shakely reports France is increasing security this summer on flights headed to the U.S. (4 Jul 2014)
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APPHOTO MEU104: Soldiers patrol through a terminal at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport in Roissy, France, Friday, July 4, 2014. The French civil aviation authority on Friday announced stepped-up security measures “for the summer period.” The agency said the measures might cause delays on U.S.-bound flights. French government officials would not elaborate Friday on the measures, citing the need for discretion in security matters. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (4 Jul 2014)
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