Full-body scanners 'to be introduced in UK airports'

Date: 4/1/2010

Britain's airports are to be equipped with full-body scanners, following a review of airline security after Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab tried to blow up a plane over Detroit on Christmas Day.

The scanners are to be introduced gradually, as are hand luggage checks for traces of explosives.

However, critics have raised concerns that the new scanners may not be able to detect the type of explosive that Mr Abdulmutallab attempted to use on Christmas Day.

BAA has announced it is to install the machines as soon as possible at Heathrow.

Each machine costs £100,000.

According to the Guardian, Heathrow has four of the scanners currently unused and awaiting approval for use from the European commission.

However, the machines are likely to be used before approval is given, the paper notes.

The scanners are also to be used at 19 airports across the US, according to the BBC.