Australia ramps up airport security after alleged bomb plot


FE Team | Published: May 15, 2018 14:36:20 | Updated: May 18, 2018 13:09:40


Australia Federal Police officers patrol the security lines at Sydney's Domestic Airport in Australia, July 31, 2017. Reuters photo used for representation.

The Australian government has announced an upgrade in airport security around the country and an increase in police powers in response to an alleged attempt to smuggle an improvised explosive device aboard an Etihad Airways flight out of Sydney last year.

The government said Tuesday that it will spend 294 million Australian dollars ($222 million) on improving security equipment and staffing levels at all major city airports plus 13 regional airports.

It follows an alleged attempt to check in a bag containing military-grade explosives into the luggage hold of an Airbus A380 double-decker jet headed to the Middle East last July, reports the Associated Press.

The airline rejected the bag at the check-in counter because it was overweight. Two Sydney men have been charged with planning a terrorist act.

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