Airports worldwide strengthen security after Brussels attacks

*FAAN heighten security at aerodromes

Several countries including Nigeria have tightened or reviewed airport security following twin explosions at the airport in Brussels.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the bomb attacks in the departure hall of Zaventem Airport, and a rush-hour metro train, which killed at least 34 people.

Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said it has beefed up security in and around all the airports in the country.

Speaking with journalists in Lagos on steps taken to avoid the Brussels incident in the country, spokesman for FAAN, Yakubu Dati said sniffer dogs have been deployed to airports in conjunction with the Nigerian police.

Dati noted that that the authority would not leave any stone unturned to ensure maximum security at the airport especially with the Easter celebrations around the corner.

He expressed shock over the dastardly act carried out at the Brussels airport warning those without business at the airport not to constitute nuisance stressing that a special task force from the Independent Corrupt Practices were on ground to append touts.

He said all the body scanners and Close Circuit Television (CCTV) gadgets were operational beaming activities of all at the airport and advised passengers to arrive the airport on time to do their normal check in procedures in order not to miss their flights.

Dati urged all air passengers not to leave any luggage behind as such item will be taken away and destroyed, adding that new measures include increased checks on those who were entering terminals and additional patrols within the terminal buildings.

In India, where airport security is tighter than in most parts of Asia, only passengers with a valid flight ticket and passports were allowed to enter the terminal buildings before Tuesday’s attacks.

Authorities in London, Paris and Frankfurt responded to the attacks by stepping up the number of police on patrol at their airports and other transport hubs.

Airlines scrambled to divert flights as Brussels airport announced it would remain closed on Wednesday.

In the US, the country’s largest cities were placed on high alert and the National Guard was called in to increase security at New York City’s two airports.
Prosecutors said the blasts at the airport, which serves more than 23 million passengers a year, were believed to be caused by suicide bombers.

Security was tighter at airports around Asia on Wednesday, with South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand and India saying that they were deploying additional resources at the major hubs.

Wole Shadare