Controversial pat down at US airport leaves 3-yr-old girl sobbing

London, Nov 18 (ANI): The national outcry over intrusive body searches at American airports has intensified after security staff are caught on camera searching a crying three-year-old girl.

Mandy Simon is seen sobbing and pleading with staff at Chattanooga, Tennessee airport, and her mum is seen picking her up to comfort her as the TSA worker kept up the check.

She had become upset after having to have her teddy bear put through an X-ray machine and can be heard screaming: "Stop touching me!"he incident, which involved Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff, was captured by her television reporter father Steven Simon on his mobile phone.

"She was a little bit scared and very cranky. I want to make it very clear that there has to be some sacrifice when it comes to security at our airports," the Daily Mail quoted him as saying.

"But did it really have to end up like this?" he added.

Mandy was searched after she set the metal detector off at the airport twice.

It is TSA policy to do a pat down search after the second time whatever the age of the passenger. (ANI)