A mysterious drone invasion in New Jersey has sparked calls for a ‘state of emergency’ as officials suggested they are coming from an Iranian ‘mothership’ off the East Coast.
Republican Rep Jeff Van Drew said Wednesday that Iran launched the vessel ‘probably about a month ago’ after making a deal with China ‘to purchase drones, a mothership and other technologies.’
‘These drones should be shot down,’ he told FOX News, adding that ‘the military is on full alert with this.’
However, the Pentagon rushed to claim there is no evidence the drones are the work of an adversary and denied there’s an Iranian ‘mothership’ lurking off the coast.
Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Sing said in a briefing: ‘At this time we have no evidence that these activities are coming from a foreign entity or the work of an adversary.’
Concern about unexplained UFOs began in mid-November when ‘car-sized’ drones appeared over the US Army’s Picatinny Arsenal in Rockaway and President-elect Donald Trump´s golf course in Bedminster.
During a Tuesday congressional hearing, Sen Jon Bramnick (R) said: ‘The State of New Jersey should issue a limited state of emergency banning all drones until the public receives an explanation regarding these multiple sightings.’
The FBI has admitted that it does not know who is behind the flying objects, while the US military insisted it is not responsible. The White House says it is ‘closely’ monitoring the situation.
Rep Chris Smith (R) also spoke during the meeting, revealing a report of 50 drones coming in off the ocean and have followed US Coast Guard boats.
The representative also noted that ‘it could be Putin, Xi Jinping in China or the Middle East, we cannot rule any of that out.’
Mayors in 21 towns across the state have now written a joint letter to New Jersey Gov Phil Murphy calling for statewide action.
Sing confirmed the craft are not US military drones and said there was ‘no so-called Iranian mothership launching drones to the US.’
The White House also addressed the drones Tuesday evening in a briefing, weeks after New Jersians have been sounded the alarm.
Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that President Biden is aware of the matter, but noted she does not know when Biden was briefed.
‘I cannot make any predictions kind of predictions,’ she said in response to whether the drones are controlled by foreign entities conducting surveillance.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was first alerted about the strange activity around the military base on November 18, six days after the drones were spotted.
The first video footage showed drones with green and red lights on their wings and multiple eyewitnesses described them as large as a small car.
At the hearing, Robert Wheeler, assistant FBI director, said: ‘There is nothing known that would lead me to say that, but we just don’t know and that’s the concerning part.
He told Congress that more than 3,000 sightings had been provided to the agency’s tip line set up last week.
Drones have been reported in 12 counties: Sussex, Passaic, Bergen, Essex, Monmouth, Ocean, Camden, Burlington, Somerset, Hunterdon, Morris and Warren.
The UFOs have been spotted over water reservoirs, electric transmission lines, rail stations, police departments and other military installations.
Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella also wrote a letter to the FAA and FBI earlier this month, requesting an investigation into the drone sightings on Staten Island, PIX 11 reported.
Wheeler was questioned about whether the public was at risk, to which he responded: ‘Are we concerned there are nefarious intentions that could cause either an actual security or public safety incident?
‘There’s nothing that is known that would lead me to say that, but we just don’t know. And that’s the concerning part of it.’
New Jersians have kept eyes on the skies, reporting the bizarre drones on social media platforms, specifically a dedicated Facebook group.
Resident John Mastrogiovanni shared: ‘They are definitely coming in from the ocean, I live on the bay and can see them every night coming in from the ocean.
’10-15 at a time. Once they hit land, some will turn their lights off and go a different direction and some are low and some high. The ones I saw are low, pretty loud, and sound like an engine on it.
‘They move slowly then speed up pretty quickly it’s every night. They are 4-5′ in size and use green and red lights.’
Kelly Ann from Osborne Island claimed the same sightings, saying the drones came from the north as she looked out to Atlantic City.
‘They follow each other like they are lined up 100 feet apart,’ she said.
Murphy has said the drones do not appear to pose a public safety risk but also noted that ‘this is something we´re taking deadly seriously.
‘I do not blame people for being frustrated,’ Murphy added.
He said Monday that the minute ‘you get eyes on them, they do dark,’ calling the flying craft ‘very sophisticated.
Murphy held a briefing call with the US homeland security secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday, as well as representatives in Congress and state police to discuss the drone reports.
The House Subcommittee on counterterrorism, law Enforcement and intelligence also held a hearing on the subject.
