The FBI has announced it has seized 32 drones that were violating no-fly restrictions over Atlanta during the World Cup.
Officials in the city revealed they have tracked 70 drones breaching the rules, which stretch to a three-mile radius on game days, but were only able to confiscate less than half.
The FBI has banned use of all drones over host stadiums and tournament-related fan events throughout the World Cup, which is the biggest in history, due to security concerns.
Special Agent in Charge Marlo Hampton said the risk of drones malfunctioning while mid-air over congested fan areas is why they are taking decisive action.
‘You can have a drone that can intercede with a law enforcement drone that’s in the area or in the air,’ Hampton said.
‘You can have a drone that can interfere with a helicopter that is up, but you can also have a drone that malfunctions or the pilot is not savvy enough to maintain it and it crashes into the crowd below.’
The FBI has banned the use of all drones over host stadiums and tournament-related events
The agency has seized 32 drones that were violating the no-fly restrictions over Atlanta
He added anybody caught flying a drone in the area will be given a citation that could lead to a year in jail, a $100,000 fine or the seizure of the drone.
It comes just days after an illegal immigrant was arrested by authorities in Atlanta amid the major crackdown on drones.
Lorenzo Rojas-Martinez – an illegal alien from Mexico with a prior cocaine distribution conviction – was detained after flying a drone over Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta.
Centennial Olympic Park is home to the city’s official fan events for the World Cup throughout the tournament. Atlanta hosted its second fixture on Thursday, with Czechia and South Africa drawing 1-1.
The Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home to the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, will welcome a further six matches across the coming weeks, including a semi-final.
Rojas-Martinez faces federal charges for flying and for illegally re-entering the United States after two prior deportations, according to authorities.
According to the criminal complaint, he was observed operating a drone in restricted airspace near Centennial Olympic Park during a fan festival on June 12 – one day after the World Cup officially kicked off.
Rojas-Martinez was reported standing in a nearby parking area and recording video of the event on the device.
After requesting his identification and reviewing his driver’s license, agents allegedly confirmed that he was unlawfully present in the United States following two prior removals.
Rojas-Martinez has a prior conviction for cocaine distribution among other charges.
Lorenzo Rojas-Martinez, an illegal alien from Mexico, was arrested by the FBI after flying a drone over a World Cup fan area
Atlanta hosted its second fixture on Thursday, with Czechia and South Africa drawing 1-1
Last week, an Iran-linked hacker group claimed to have breached FBI drones and threatened to target the World Cup, according to a report.
Handala, a prominent pro-Palestine cyber threat organization, is said to have alleged that it had obtained access to ‘every image and every suspect’ for months ahead of the soccer tournament.
The hackers said the first-person view (FPV) drones featured facial recognition and license plate screening, deployed for counterterrorism purposes, according to SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist movements.
‘Better tighten your World Cup security, we don’t like some of those teams at all. Don’t forget: FPVs are everywhere; you never know when one might end up right in your team’s bus,’ Handala warned in the statement quoted by SITE.
The Handala syndicate published alleged photos and footage that it said were taken from the hacked drones. However, SITE disputed that claim.
The Justice Department has previously warned of the potential for cyberattacks by Iranian actors following the US-Israeli strikes on Tehran in February that triggered the latest conflict in the Middle East.
