Terror threats that may involve hijacking of planes by suspected terrorists have forced Ugandan security to provide armed personnel on regional planes, Daily Monitor can reveal. Security sources, who declined to be named because they are not authorised to talk to the press, said armed marshals started operating on flights plying the Juba – Entebbe route after anonymous terror threats were issued last month.

“The marshals board the planes whenever they leave Entebbe to Juba and vice versa to counter any hijacking incidents that may arise while airborne,” the source said. Deputy Police spokesman Vincent Ssekatte confirmed that on-board security has been provided to all planes in the country but could not comment on whether the security personnel are armed. “All planes and flights have been secured both on ground and air within Uganda,” Mr Ssekatte said yesterday. He said the move is aimed at providing maximum safety to passengers in Ugandan skies.

Planned attacks
The United States recently warned that regional extremists were planning an attack on flights of Air Uganda between Kampala and Juba, Southern Sudan. Later the security agencies from both countries assured air passengers that the airline was safe. But since then the two countries have stepped up security by providing x-ray scans, metal detectors, security cameras, sniffer dogs, mobile patrols at the airport perimeters. At Entebbe Airport, passengers are now required to remove all metallic materials including belts, rings and shoes as they pass through the metallic detectors. The idea of armed marshals as a protective measure against terrorists and hijackers was started in Israel and has spread to other countries after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

Related posts:

1. The Future of Ghana International Airline In 2010 In 2009, many of us have enjoyed cheap flights with Ghana International at very reasonable rates. The airline, although a 2 starrer pays good value...
2. Cheap Flights to Africa : Review about Travel Africa Africa is the second largest continent after Asia and is reckoned round the world by dint of its diverse landscapes, dense forests, rich culture and...
3. Cheap flights to Durban for 2010 FIFA world cup The golden beaches of Durban are famous for casting the spell of their beauty on millions of tourists every year. Many even say that “the...