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France Arrests 3 With Drones By Power Plant France Arrests 3 With Drones By Power Plant
(about 1 hour later)
PARIS — Two men and a woman were questioned by the police on Thursday after being arrested in possession of two drones near the Belleville-sur-Loire nuclear power plant in central France, news agencies reported.PARIS — Two men and a woman were questioned by the police on Thursday after being arrested in possession of two drones near the Belleville-sur-Loire nuclear power plant in central France, news agencies reported.
The arrests follow a wave of at least 14 illegal drone flights over French nuclear plants in recent weeks, which have raised concerns about the security of the country’s main source of electricity. However, the French news media reported that the three suspects — two men, ages 24 and 31, and a woman, 21 — did not appear to have any link to the mysterious drone flights. The woman was released Thursday.The arrests follow a wave of at least 14 illegal drone flights over French nuclear plants in recent weeks, which have raised concerns about the security of the country’s main source of electricity. However, the French news media reported that the three suspects — two men, ages 24 and 31, and a woman, 21 — did not appear to have any link to the mysterious drone flights. The woman was released Thursday.
Law enforcement officials told Agence France-Presse that the three did not have criminal records; they were suspected of having illegally flown two drones near the plant. Vincent Bonnefoy, a prosecutor from the area in central France, told reporters that the three were hobbyists who had been trying to film a remote-control boat in a lake near the plant. He said that one of the three had flown a drone in the same area in October, and had made a film of the flight. Law enforcement officials told Agence France-Presse that the three did not have criminal records; they were suspected of having illegally flown two drones near the plant. Vincent Bonnefoy, a prosecutor from the area in central France, told reporters that the three were hobbyists who had been trying to film a remote-control boat in a lake near the plant. He said that one of the three flew a drone in the same area in October and made a film of the flight.
The newspaper Le Monde said they were arrested in a car in a restricted area about 650 feet from the plant.The newspaper Le Monde said they were arrested in a car in a restricted area about 650 feet from the plant.
From Oct. 5 to Nov. 2, guards at 13 nuclear plants, including some operated by the French electricity giant EDF, had heard the buzzing of drones that the authorities have labeled an “organized provocation” aimed at “disrupting the surveillance chain and protection of these sites.” Officials said that the drones were not military, but rather civilian or commercial, and that they could be used to take photographs or record video of the plants. From Oct. 5 to Nov. 2, guards at 13 nuclear plants, including some operated by the French electricity giant EDF, heard the buzzing of drones that the authorities have labeled an “organized provocation” aimed at “disrupting the surveillance chain and protection of these sites.” Officials said that the drones were not military, but rather civilian or commercial, and that they could be used to take photographs or record video of the plants.
Adding to the mystery, Ségolène Royal, the environment minister, has said that she does not have any leads on who was behind the flights. While she said she would not let anyone undermine France’s reputation for security at its nuclear plants, she added that the threat posed by the drone flights should neither be minimized nor exaggerated.Adding to the mystery, Ségolène Royal, the environment minister, has said that she does not have any leads on who was behind the flights. While she said she would not let anyone undermine France’s reputation for security at its nuclear plants, she added that the threat posed by the drone flights should neither be minimized nor exaggerated.
France has 19 nuclear plants and 58 reactors that supply nearly 75 percent of its electricity.France has 19 nuclear plants and 58 reactors that supply nearly 75 percent of its electricity.
The newspaper Le Figaro, citing an anonymous government official, has reported that police officers are under orders to shoot down any aircraft that could threaten the plants.The newspaper Le Figaro, citing an anonymous government official, has reported that police officers are under orders to shoot down any aircraft that could threaten the plants.