Spain, US on terror alert as visa controls tighten

SPAIN and America were plunged into fresh terror alerts yesterday as the US decided to expand its security policy to fingerprint and photograph citizens from visa-waiver countries, including Ireland.

Washington decided to introduce the new ID measure from September 30 next after accepting the 27 visa-waiver countries will not meet an October deadline to introduce passports including biometrics data.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said its consulate section in Dublin was yesterday briefed on the new US security measure aimed at fighting global terrorism.