Canary Wharf station starts explosives screening

LONDON, May 16 (Reuters) Passengers at London's Canary Wharf underground station face screening for explosives which began today as authorities look at ways to tighten security following last July's suicide bombings.

Four British bombers killed 52 commuters after blowing themselves up on three underground trains and a double-decker bus in London last year.

The attacks prompted calls for the introduction of new hi-tech systems to detect bombers, including the possible use of irport- style scanners to check passengers.

The trial of screening equipment at Canary Wharf in the heart of the Docklands business centre is expected to last a month.

''It is not intended to enhance security at the station but to assess the impact on passengers and how the equipment has erformed,'' said a statement from Smiths, maker of the explosives ticket-scanner and baggage x-ray system that will be used.

The scanner can identify traces of more than 40 explosive substances in no more than eight seconds, the firm said.

It is the second time such equipment has been tested -- the previous trial took place at London's mainline Paddington rail station earlier this year.

The government has acknowledged that airport-style scanners would be impractical on London's huge underground system and would create chaos for commuters.

But it will use the trials to assess whether the technology could be used at selected locations when appropriate.

REUTERS DKS RN1708