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Mystery night time drones take flight in Paris

February 24, 2015

Authorities have reported at least five drones spotted flying near landmarks in central Paris early Tuesday. The operators have not been apprehended, according to a security source.

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Der Eiffelturm in Paris bei Nacht
Image: picture-alliance/dpa

At least five drones flew over Paris during the night from Monday to Tuesday, security sources have told news agencies, with the first sighted hovering from 100 to 300 meters (330-1,000 feet) above the US Embassy shortly after midnight local time (2300 UTC). The Eiffel Tower and the Place de la Concorde "were also flown over" in the early hours of Tuesday, the news agency AFP reported, quoting a security source.

"It could be part of a coordinated action," the source said, according to AFP, "but we do not know more at the moment."

The drones in the Invalides sector and near the Eiffel Tower were spotted between the hours of 4 and 6 a.m.

'Deployed everything'

Police mobilized to find the pilots, but did not immediately succeed in doing so. Air transit authorities were specifically looking into the incident over the US Embassy, while local police are searching out the pilots of the other drones.

"We have deployed everything in an effort to find the pilots," a second source told AFP, "but they have not been detected."

On January 20, a drone flew over the Elysee Palace, the seat of the French presidency, "but never have so many drones been seen in one night," a police source said, according to AFP. In October, multiple drones, also flown by unidentified pilots, were reported around nuclear sites in France, leading to terrorism fears.

Drones have scientific and recreational purposes, but can also be used to kill.

mkg/rc (Reuters, AFP)