Dominican Republic airports heighten security on U.S. alert

Santo Domingo.- Airport Security director Miguel Paulino and the Civil Aviation Agency on Monday announced heightened security checks at all airports, after Washington’s alert that groups linked to al Qaeda aim to smuggle explosive devices onto airlines.

The official said the measures are taken mostly on flights with United States and European cities as their final destination.

The U.S. Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) placed restrictions on travelers’ baggage at designated airports, and warned that if certain devices don’t turn on they’ll be confiscated, and passengers who carry them will undergo further inspection.

United States will redouble security at airports before fear of terrorist groups linked to Al Qaeda for the development of an explosive device that could pass without detection at airports.

He said passengers bound for the United States and Europe must prove that their electronic devices such as cell phones and laptops operate normally before boarding the aircraft. "We’re placing more attention on the baggage and departing passengers with destination to the United States and European nations from our airports.”

Paulino said the measures will be in effect at the international airports at Santo Domingo (Las Americas and El Higüero), Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, Santiago, Samana and La Romana.

The measure comes after U.S. authorities expressed concern that terrorist groups linked to al Qaeda aim to develop explosive within devices that could pass airport security undetected.