Paris Solves Drone Mystery, Arrests 3

City of Lights had been mystified by flybys, allegedly at hands of al-Jazeera journos
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Feb 25, 2015 12:59 PM CST
Paris Busts 3 al-Jazeera Journos in Drone Mystery
In this Nov. 7, 2014 file photo, a drone flies during a presentation in Paris, France, Friday, Nov. 7, 2014.   (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

The Paris prosecutors' office says three al-Jazeera journalists have been arrested for illegally flying a drone. It said the three foreign nationals aged 70, 54, and 36 were taken into custody this afternoon after police spotted the drone flying in the Bois de Boulogne woods in western Paris. They can be held for a maximum of 24 hours under French law. Flying drones without a license in France is illegal and carries a maximum one-year prison sentence and an $85,000 fine.

The arrests come as unidentified drones flew over the Eiffel Tower and key Paris landmarks five times for a second night running last night, baffling French authorities. Police sighted one or more drones in five instances buzzing in the Paris sky between 11:30pm and 2am. An inquiry was launched after drones, which are banned over Paris, were spotted Monday night. (More drones stories.)

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