6-year-old’s frisking causes outrage in US

Parents of girl who got an 'intensive' pat-down at airport call for different screening steps for children

6-year-old's frisking causes outrage in US

Parents of girl who got an 'intensive' pat-down at airport call for different screening steps for children

The child's parents uploaded the video on YouTube, where it generated huge interest

Anna Drexel began to cry, thinking she had done something wrong. When her parents asked TSA to stop and just put her back through the scanner, they were told no.

The Drexels know that TSA does random screenings, but they cannot understand why they would subject a young child to one.

"She thought she had done something wrong, and we assured her and reassured her that she had not," said Dr Todd Drexel, a physician.

Drexel strongly protested that there had to be an alternative. He said physically touching her made Anna, and her parents, very uncomfortable.

"We tell our child, no one is supposed to touch you in those areas and I think it is very confusing for kids at times, even a law enforcement agent," said Drexel.

He says although he supports airport security, children need to be treated differently than adults. His main concern is the effect that this treatment had upon Anna, and says there has to be a more effective procedure in selecting who to pat down.

"Obviously I don't think my six-year-old looks like a terrorist and I don't think we do either. I could be wrong. I'm sure there are terrorists out there who look like me or my child.

Certainly there are people out there in the world who don't respect their children like we do or might treat them in different ways. I just think there is a balance that needs to occur," said Drexel.

'Proper procedure'

A spokesman for TSA said that the search was in line with established procedures.

"TSA has reviewed the incident and determined that this officer followed proper current screening procedures," agency spokesman Jim Fotenos said in a statement.

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