'Now 'body scanners' could be deployed at US train stations, subways, other mass transits'

Washington, Nov 26 (ANI): Despite recent controversies being raised about full-body scanners at airports, US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has hinted that such scanners and "enhanced" pat-downs could be deployed at train stations, ports, subways as well.

In an interview on "Charlie Rose" that aired on Monday, Napolitano said that terrorists would continue to seek opportunities to attack the nation's transportation systems.

"I think the tighter we get on aviation, we have to also be thinking now about going on to mass transit or to trains or maritime. So what do we need to be doing to strengthen our protections there?" Fox News quoted Napolitano, as saying.

Napolitano's comments came as outrage grows over what some call intrusive X-ray scans and pat-downs that the Transportation Security Administration has used to screen airline passengers.

Earlier, the government had said that most of the passengers would not be subjected to full-body scans or pat-downs at airports and the hype swirling around a few highly publicised cases does not reflect the reality of the new safety inspections.

Last week, Napolitano defended the screening procedures and criticized the protests, saying: "I really want to say, look, let's be realistic and use our common sense," and added that the process to develop the screening technology had started before the failed Christmas Day bombing attack last year.

Surprisingly a Washington Post-ABC News poll had found this week that nearly two-thirds of Americans support the new scanning machines, saying that they are more concerned about fighting terrorism than protecting personal privacy. (ANI)