Johannesburg - Egyptian authorities have significantly beefed up security at Cairo's international airport following last October's crash of a Russian plane over the Sinai Peninsula which killed all 224 people on board, after a bomb was believed to have been smuggled on board.
Head of Cairo International Airport, Muhammed Said, announced the purchase of two explosive detecting devices at a cost of 18-million Euros to boost security measures around the airport, reported Egypt's “Al Ahram Online”.
Said explained that the devices would be located outside checkpoints that inspected all vehicles and cars prior to their entry to the airport.
Following October's crash, the Egyptian authorities installed new x-ray baggage scanners at the departure hall of the airport, added “Al Ahram Online”.
Reuters earlier reported that an EgyptAir mechanic, suspected of involvement in the bombing, had a cousin who had joined the Islamic State (IS).
Two police officers and a baggage handler at Cairo airport are also suspected of having helped smuggle the bomb on board the Russian plane.
Following the crash, Egypt's tourism industry, a pillar of the country's economy, suffered a significant blow as a number of international flights to the country were suspended and foreign governments warned their citizens against travelling to the North African country.
Egypt's tourism and aviation ministries subsequently invited a number of international security experts to the country to evaluate the new security measures.
“Al Ahram Online” reported that the new measures had been hailed by Russian and Dutch experts.
ANA