Women Refuse To Go Through Airport Body Scanners

Two women were stopped from boarding a plane at Manchester Airport after refusing to undergo a full body scan. The passengers were due to fly to Islamabad on 19 February when they were selected at random to go through the new scanning machine. One, who is believed to be a Muslim, refused on religious reasons and the other cited health grounds. They are thought to be the first people to refuse to use the scanners since they became compulsory in February. The machines were introduced as a trial at the airport in October 2009. The women were warned they were legally required to go through the scanner, after being chosen at random, or they would not be allowed to fly, an airport spokesman said.