New Jersey locals scared as drone sightings continue
Illustrative photo: Unknown drones spotted over New Jersey (Getty Images)
Mysterious drones continue violating New Jersey airspace, which prompts irritation and fear among locals, according to CNN.
On Wednesday, in a weekly video report, Mayor Michael Melham of Belleville Township stated that drones operate at night and can evade detection by turning off their lights. Meanwhile, the police reported that the origin and motive of the regular drone sightings have not been clarified yet.
Later, Pequannock Mayor Ryan Herb stated that the conditions seemed very unpleasant for Pequannock citizens. “We are literally being invaded by drones. We have no idea who is doing it and where they’re coming from,” Herb said.
One of the US Coast Guard representatives, who witnessed some drone activities, claimed: “Multiple low-altitude aircraft were observed in the vicinity of one of our vessels near Island Beach State Park".
Background
Since November 18, large drones have been spotted near critical infrastructure and military facilities in the US, including the Picatinny Arsenal and a golf course that belongs to President-elect President Donald Trump. Although federal and state agencies, including the FBI, Coast Guard, and New Jersey State Police reported drone sightings are not linked to local or federal entities, their origin remains unknown. However, speculations of foreign involvement, especially Iran, have been dismissed by the Pentagon.
Despite Governor Phil Murphy's reassurance that there is no public threat to locals, federal lawmakers, including Senator Cory Booker, have urged for more detailed investigations, while disturbed residents continue to report frequent drone activity.
Previously, due to raised concerns over drone sightings, a New Jersey senator established a limited state of emergency to determine the origin of drones and eliminate them.
