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Mysterious drone sightings have also been reported in the Hudson Valley, Albany area

Mysterious drone sightings have also been reported in the Hudson Valley, Albany area

Screenshots from a video posted by the Orange County Department of Emergency Services showing an apparent drone of unknown origin flying over the county Thursday night.

Screenshots from a video posted by the Orange County Department of Emergency Services showing an apparent drone of unknown origin flying over the county Thursday night.

Orange County Department of Emergency Services

After reports of mysterious drones flying over parts of New Jersey in recent weeks, officials in both Albany County and the lower Hudson Valley said they received more reports of drone sightings Thursday night, sparking speculation and concern about their origin.

“We have been in contact with our state and local law enforcement partners regarding this. There is no known threat to public safety at this time and we continue to closely monitor this situation,” Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus said in a social media statement Thursday evening.

Rockland County Executive Ed Day and County Sheriff Louis Falco said there were at least four reports of drones seen flying over Rockland County in New Jersey late Thursday night. They urged residents to remain calm.

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Further north, Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple confirmed two calls came in around 8 or 9 p.m. Thursday to report drones, although he was unsure of the exact location. CBS6 first reported that drones were spotted over the Colony and possibly Schenectady.

“We believe they are part of that drone path over New Jersey and New York,” he said, but added that it was still unclear if they were related.

A video posted by the Orange County Department of Emergency Services shows a drone that appears to be traveling slowly with flashing lights. It is not clear where exactly he was flying.

One video on Facebook On Friday morning, Neuhaus said his office, Orange County Emergency Services and the County Sheriff’s Office received multiple reports of drone sightings from several parts of Orange County. Most had their lights on “but a lot of them also had their lights off,” said Neuhaus, who said he saw the drones himself, including one Thursday night that “was the size of a small car.”

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Neuhaus said the drones were not registered with the Federal Aviation Administration’s B4UFLY service, which he said was “alarming.” He said he was “concerned” but that the public should not panic or call 911. Instead, he encouraged people to continue to send videos and images to his office.

“I don’t think there’s any real threat right now to the county, but it’s certainly a problem and it’s certainly a concern because if they’re not reg(ed) and they’re large commercial-sized drones, what’s the intent here? Neuhaus said.

Neuhaus said he has communicated with the Pentagon and will meet with federal and state partners on Friday.

Authorities say they don’t know who is behind the drones.

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In a joint statement On Thursday, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security said they have “no evidence at this time” that the reported drone sightings pose a threat to national security or public safety or have a “foreign connection.” The agencies are investigating the sightings with the New Jersey State Police to confirm whether the lights are drones, manned aircraft or inaccurate sightings.

On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and US Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Cory Booker and Andy Kim sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration, requesting information on how the agencies work with federal and local. law enforcement to identify and address the source of recent drone activity in New York and New Jersey.

“Since late November, communities in the New York City area and northern New Jersey have reported several incidents of unattributable nighttime drone sightings, alarming both residents and local law enforcement,” the letter states. “The potential safety and security risks posed by these drones in civilian areas are particularly pertinent given recent drone incursions into sensitive military sites in and outside the continental United States over the past year.”

Speculation has run wild online, with some expressing concern that the drones could be part of a nefarious plot by foreign agents. Officials stress that ongoing state and federal investigations have found no evidence to support those fears.

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“I think there’s been so much attention nationally, if I see something in the air that I call someone,” Apple said, but, citing concerns about the lack of drone regulation, added: “This is not necessarily a bad thing”.

In addition to New Jersey and New York, sightings have also been reported in Pennsylvania.

Mysterious drones were also spotted in the UK last month. The US Air Force said several small unmanned aircraft were detected near four military bases in England used by US forces.

Dozens of witnesses have reported seeing drones in New Jersey since November.

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At first, the drones were seen flying along the scenic Raritan River, a waterway that feeds Round Valley Reservoir, the state’s largest aquifer, about 50 miles west of New York City. But sightings were soon being reported across the country, including near the Picatinny Arsenal, a US military research and production facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster.

The planes have also been spotted in coastal areas recently.

— H. Rose Schneider and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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