French Authorities Investigate Drones Sighted Over Nuclear Reactors

Published November 6, 2014 at 1:12 PM EST

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A picture taken on September 9, 2014 shows a drone flying over vineyards of the Pape Clement castle, in the soutwestern French town of Pessac. French authorities have been left scratching their heads as unidentified drones zoom over nuclear plants across the country and while they pose no danger to the rock-solid structures, the mysterious phenomenon raises several concerns, experts say. State-run power company EDF rang alarm bells last week when it announced it had filed a complaint with police after detecting the small unmanned aerial vehicles zipping over not one, not two, but seven atomic plants in October. (AFP PHOTO JEAN-PIERRE MULLER)

Three young men have been arrested in France for the possession of an unmanned drone flying near a nuclear reactor.

French authorities have had their eyes on this issue after at least 15 drones have been spotted soaring over nuclear reactors in the country since October.

No one is quite sure what’s going on, but police have been given the authority to shoot down the drones, according to reports.

The BBC’s Lucy Williamson spoke with Here & Now’s Jeremy Hobson about who these three men are and what they are charged with.

Note: This BBC interview can be heard in the Here & Now podcast or with the WBUR app.

Guest

Lucy Williamson, Paris-based correspondent for the BBC. She tweets @lucywilliamson.