A US Senator from Connecticut said the mysterious drones that recently flew over mid-Atlantic states should be shot down “if necessary.”
In an interview on Capitol Hill Thursday, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said intelligence analysis on the drones is needed and that the U.S. should act “more aggressively” on the reported sightings.
“We should do some very smart intelligence analysis and take them out of the air, especially if they fly over airports or military bases,” the senator said. “They should be shot down if necessary because they fly over sensitive areas.”
Blumenthal also said the lack of information about the drones, who they belong to and where they come from is “absolutely unacceptable.”
DRONES SPOTTED ABOVE THE CONNECTICUT SKY IN THE LATEST PHENOMENON
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said the mysterious drones spotted in recent weeks in New Jersey, and most recently in Connecticut, should be shot down “if necessary.” (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
His comments come as many large drones There have been reports of them flying over New Jersey in recent weeks. Drones were also reported to have been spotted in the state of Blumenthal for the first time on Thursday.
White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said Thursday that many of the alleged drones spotted recently are actually legally piloted manned aircraft.
“We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a threat to national security or public safety, or have any foreign nexus,” Kirby told reporters at the daily White House news conference. “The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the FBI is investigating these sightings, and they are working closely with state and local law enforcement agencies to provide resources using numerous detection methods to better understand its origins.
Mysterious drones have been spotted flying over the mid-Atlantic in the United States in recent weeks. The graph above shows reported observations as of Wednesday, December 11. (Fox News)
Kirby also said the investigation into the alleged drones has not revealed “any national security, malicious intent or criminal activity” so far, but admitted the government is in the early stages of the investigation.
Blumenthal said his office is requesting a briefing on the drones, describing it as “absolutely necessary” for Congress and the American people as many appear concerned and afraid.
“I’m hearing from constituents in the metropolitan area nearby New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, who are really terrified of these drones flying unidentified over airports and military bases,” he said.
A social media user said she filmed several drones hovering over Fairfield, Connecticut on Thursday evening. (Lucy Biggers)
The senator added that the drones are causing a “level of fear, even terror” as people worry about surveillance and aircraft flying in the same airspace.
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He also encouraged Americans who wanted to use drones to buy drones made in the US and not China, warning that they could be “sources of surveillance data for other types of security threats.”
On December 5, multiple drones were spotted flying over Bernardsville, New Jersey. (Brian Glenn/TMX/AP)
“Chinese-made drones are real and pose a threat to the security of this country,” Blumenthal said. “We have to stop using it.”
