Full body scanners, we hardly knew you. An Obama administration official has reportedly stated that hand-swabbing will be the latest anti-terrorism technique put into use at airports nationwide.
According to 1010WINS, airports were informed on Wednesday that more passengers should be randomly checked for explosives "before, during and after they go through metal detectors." TSA agents might swab passengers' hands to check for traces of explosives while they stand on line for security screening, or even at their gates, the Wall Street Journal reports. Officials might also test carry-on bags with 800 portable detection machines, which have been requested in President Obama's 2011 budget.
The security uptick comes after a Nigerian man attempted to detonate a bomb in his underwear aboard a flight landing in Detroit on Christmas Day. A TSA spokeswoman said the screenings will be random and differ between airports. Security experts and privacy advocates told CNN they support the new policy because it is believed to be an effective means of finding explosives, and because it is less intrusive than full body scanners.
