Three people arrested for flying drones in MA and CA. DHS SEC dismisses concerns over mystery drone sightings and said, "We know of no foreign involvement." However, questions grow over bizarre drone sightings across U.S.
In New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut, drone-like objects have been observed for weeks, but little information is available. Federal agencies have mixed information about the mystery drones, while state officials have attempted to get answers from the FBI despite seeing the drones firsthand.
There are no indications of security threats, officials say. Investigators have found no evidence of "malicious activity" in New Jersey or a "national security or public safety threat" at this time, according to a statement released by the FBI and DHS on Thursday. The statement also says a foreign nexus has not been identified for the drones, so the investigation will continue. According to the report, many of the drone sightings are cases of mistaken identity, in which drones are mistakenly identified as lawful aircraft. At a briefing Thursday, John Kirby, the White House’s national security communications advisor, reiterated the FBI's statement and said officials are unable to confirm any reported visual sightings.
Two days ago, an arrest has been made by federal law enforcement officials after a Chinese citizen was allegedly caught flying and photographing a military base in California with a drone.
In Santa Barbara County, California, Yinpiao Zhou, 39, a Chinese citizen and U.S. resident, was accused of flying a drone and taking photos of Vandenberg Space Force Base. As stated in a release, he was charged with "failure to register an aircraft, not providing transportation, and violation of national defense airspace," according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
“This defendant allegedly flew a drone over a military base and took photos of the base’s layout, which is against the law,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. “The security of our nation is of paramount importance, and my office will continue to promote the safety of our nation’s military personnel and facilities.”
According to court documents, Zhou operated the drone that activated the drone detection system at Vandenberg Space Force Base on Nov. 30. During its one-hour hover, the device reached an altitude of nearly 1 mile above ground level. The drone was launched from a nearby park by its operator. Security officers at Vandenberg found a drone hidden in Zhou's jacket when they confronted him at the park.
A federal search warrant was obtained by the Justice Department for the drone, which contained aerial viewpoint pictures of the base. Zhou's cellphone revealed messages with another person regarding how to increase the drone's flight height, as well as an inquiry about Vandenberg Space Force Base drone rules.
The Justice Department said Zhou was arrested before boarding a flight to China on Monday. On Tuesday, he appeared in federal court in San Francisco and is being held there "pending prosecutors' appeal of the magistrate judge's decision to release him."
“These are not U.S. military drones,” Sabrina Singh, the Pentagon's deputy press secretary, told reporters. “At this time, we have no evidence that these activities are coming from a foreign entity or the work of an adversary.”
Comments