Headline Roundup • December 13th, 2024
What Do We Know About the Drones Over New Jersey?
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Since November 18, sightings of apparent drone clusters have been reported across New Jersey and some parts of Pennsylvania and New York. The FBI is investigating, but has not released information so far.
The Details: On Dec. 9, 20 New Jersey mayors signed a letter advocating for more transparency in the FBI investigations into the drones. Since the FBI established a tip line for sightings, 3,000 have been reported, though there could be multiple reports of the same drone.
Key Quotes: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy spoke on Monday, saying, “it's really frustrating that we don't have more answers as to where they're coming from and why they're doing what they're doing.” Republican Assemblyman Erik Peterson spoke with the Department of Homeland Security about who or what is behind the drones, “My understanding is they have no clue,” he said. One state senator, Jon Bramnick, called for a ban on drones until the mystery is solved.
Speculation: Rep. Jeff Van Drew said that the drones should be shot down and that intelligence sources told him the drones are Iranian. The Pentagon and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre have denied that the drones are foreign. The New York Post (Lean Right) featured security experts who speculated that the drones were part of a secret U.S. government program.
How the Media Covered It: Media outlets on the right were more likely to feature Rep. Van Drew's claims or other speculative theories in their headlines. When outlets on the left covered the story, they often quoted Gov. Murphy saying there is "no known threat to the public at this time."
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For several weeks, citizens across New Jersey — as well as New York and Pennsylvania — have reported seeing clusters of drone-like objects flying low in the sky at night, and state officials have asked the FBI for answers as information remains scarce about the continued sightings.
New Jersey police announced on Nov. 19 that officers had witnessed “drone activity” the previous night over Morris County, in the state’s northwest corner, and said they would investigate the activity; they noted rumors were “spreading on social media” and said there was “no known threat to...
The Pentagon has not yet asked U.S. Northern Command to intervene amid reports of mysterious drones witnessed flying over New Jersey, according to a military spokesperson.
The large drone sightings have caused concern and confusion as dozens have been reported and officials are at a loss to explain where they come from. Northern Command confirmed some of the drones have been sighted near U.S. military installations.
"We are aware and monitoring the reports of unauthorized drone flights in the vicinity of military installations in New Jersey to include Picatinny Arsenal and...
The mysterious reported sightings of drone clusters in the night skies over New Jersey and other parts of the US north-east has prompted frustrated outbursts from Congress members, triggering calls for a limited state of emergency to be declared over the region.
Jon Bramnick, a Republican state senator in New Jersey, has demanded a ban on all drones until the mystery is solved. ABC’s Action News reported that he called for a “limited state of emergency … until the public receives an explanation regarding these multiple sightings”.
Concern about unexplained drone sightings began in mid-November as isolated postings...
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