SECURITY TIGHTENED ON FLIGHTS TO U.S

Passengers on US-bound flights from Britain are facing delays and extra security measures after a man was charged with trying to blow up a plane. The man, a former UK student from Nigeria, is alleged to have hidden explosives in his clothes. Police have been searching a number of central London properties in connection with the incident. Travellers are undergoing "pat-down" searches before boarding and being restricted to one item of hand luggage. US authorities introduced the measures, along with a ban on leaving seats in the hour before landing, after the man tried to ignite explosives as Northwest Airlines Flight 253 from Amsterdam approached Detroit on Friday. He was overpowered by passengers before the device, understood to contain about 80g of high explosive, detonated. It is alleged that the bomber spent about 20 minutes in the toilet before trying to set off a device moulded around his body, which had apparently passed undetected through airport checks.