US bans laptops, tablets on flights from Muslim nation, UK to follow suit

In response to unspecified terrorism threats, and it's continuing ban on immigration, the US government has banned carry-on electronic devices such as laptops, tablets, digital cameras and other large electronics in luggage of passengers on flights coming to the US from 10 airports in Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East and North Africa.

The new ban which took effect from Tuesday, majorly affects 8 countries in the Middle East and North Africa.

The new rule, will apply nonstop to U.S.-bound flights from 10 international airports in the cities of Cairo in Egypt, Amman in Jordan, Kuwait City in Kuwait, Casablanca in Morocco, Doha in Qatar, Riyadh and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Istanbul in Turkey, and Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, passengers travelling from those airports could not bring devices larger than a mobile phone, such as tablets, portable DVD players, laptops and cameras, into the main cabin. 

In similar vein, the UK is set to follow suit with reports emerging that security sources have revealed that they have seen the same intelligence and will implement a similar ban.

The new restrictions were prompted by reports that militant groups want to smuggle explosive devices in electronic gadgets.

The airports affected by the electronics rules are served by nine airlines that fly directly from those cities to the United States about 50 times a day, senior government officials said.

The restrictions only apply to travellers arriving in the US and not for those same flights when they leave the United States.

The rules also apply to US citizens travelling on those flights, but not to crew members on those foreign carriers.