New York:
The major international airport of the Netherlands will begin using full-body scanners on passengers flying to the United States to prevent a recurrence of the security breach that allowed a would-be bomber to smuggle explosives onto a flight to Detroit from Amsterdam on Christmas Day, the Dutch authorities said Wednesday.
Although Dutch officials said they would deploy the scanners "immediately," a spokesman for the country's counterterrorism office said that only 7 of the 15 full-body scanners at the airport, Schiphol, were ready for use. The rest are to be deployed within three weeks after receiving software upgrades.
The interior minister, Guusje ter Horst, said the United States had previously not wanted Amsterdam to use the full-body scanners, which look through clothing and show the outlines of the body, because of privacy concerns. But ter Horst said there was now agreement with Washington that "all possible measures will be used on flights to the U.S."
Judith Sluiter, spokeswoman for the Dutch national coordinator for counterterrorism, said Sunday that the "Dutch authorities have not been given permission to use them on passengers for U.S.-bound flights."
But by Tuesday, a spokeswoman for U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Napolitano had called the Dutch justice minister to urge that the machines be put into use. Homeland Security officials also disputed that they had ever prohibited the Dutch from using the machines for America-bound passengers. About 40 full-body scanners are used in airports across the United States, but passengers can choose to be patted down as an alternative.
The Dutch airport has been using such scanners since 2007 on flights to various destinations, as a test. The European Union has not approved their routine use.
"Flying is voluntary, and if a body scan is needed to protect others, then this is more important," said Ton Heerts, a member of the Dutch Parliament. Besides, Heerts said, the machine is less intrusive than physical pat-downs.
Although Dutch officials said they would deploy the scanners "immediately," a spokesman for the country's counterterrorism office said that only 7 of the 15 full-body scanners at the airport, Schiphol, were ready for use. The rest are to be deployed within three weeks after receiving software upgrades.
The interior minister, Guusje ter Horst, said the United States had previously not wanted Amsterdam to use the full-body scanners, which look through clothing and show the outlines of the body, because of privacy concerns. But ter Horst said there was now agreement with Washington that "all possible measures will be used on flights to the U.S."
Judith Sluiter, spokeswoman for the Dutch national coordinator for counterterrorism, said Sunday that the "Dutch authorities have not been given permission to use them on passengers for U.S.-bound flights."
But by Tuesday, a spokeswoman for U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Napolitano had called the Dutch justice minister to urge that the machines be put into use. Homeland Security officials also disputed that they had ever prohibited the Dutch from using the machines for America-bound passengers. About 40 full-body scanners are used in airports across the United States, but passengers can choose to be patted down as an alternative.
The Dutch airport has been using such scanners since 2007 on flights to various destinations, as a test. The European Union has not approved their routine use.
"Flying is voluntary, and if a body scan is needed to protect others, then this is more important," said Ton Heerts, a member of the Dutch Parliament. Besides, Heerts said, the machine is less intrusive than physical pat-downs.
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