- Title: FRANCE-DRONES France launches investigation into Paris drone sightings
- Date: 25th February 2015
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (FEBRUARY 25, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DRONES IN SHOP
- Embargoed: 12th March 2015 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: France
- Country: France
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA8YSGA72E7AXBJNL51ORPTXIPO
- Story Text: French authorities have launched investigations into sightings of drones this week close to sensitive sites in Paris, the government said on Wednesday (February 25), as media reports indicated that the United States embassy and the Eiffel Tower had been targeted.
According to reports, there have been five sightings of drones overnight on Tuesday and Wednesday but as yet there have been no claims of responsibility.
The government said they did not pose a security risk although the French capital remains on top security after last month's deadly attacks by Islamist gunmen at a satirical magazine and a Jewish food store.
The CEO of drone manufacturer Parrot, Henri Seydoux, told Europe 1 radio that the reports should not alarm the public.
"There have not yet been any confirmed cases of terrorists using drones. What would they do with them? What is the potential threat? It's not something that's happened before. We shouldn't give in to panic or fantasy," he said.
His company makes small drones for leisure use and has sold 700,000 of them since entering the market in 2010.
But French law rules that they cannot be flown in public in built-up areas and not above an altitude of 150 metres.
"Many things are potentially dangerous -- a car is potentially dangerous, computers are potentially dangerous. Drones are also potentially extremely useful, beneficial for many industries and activities," said Seydoux.
Government spokesman Stephane Le Foll ruled out a security risk and said drones were not solely a French phenomenon.
Drone owner Xavier Lemarechal said that many people who have bought or been given drones are not aware of the regulation which governs them.
"There are rules but to be aware of it you have to be part of a certain world -- aeronautics or something similar -- and lots of people don't know about it. Personally, I do. But I don't have a drone that's big enough to go and fly over private properties and so on but I understand that there is a debate surrounding this issue and I think that the question of rules will come up sooner or later," he said.
The five sightings follow a similar mystery last November involving overflights by drones of five nuclear power sites in the country.
Last month an employee of a U.S. spy agency said he had been operating a small drone that crashed on the grounds of the White House. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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