By Tina Kelley
nj.com
TRENTON, N.J. — Following more than two weeks of unexplained nighttime sightings over New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy said Thursday the mysterious drones do not pose a danger to the public.
“We are actively monitoring the situation and in close coordination with our federal and law enforcement partners on this matter,” Murphy said in a message Thursday on X, formerly known as Twitter. “There is no known threat to the public at this time.”
Murphy said he convened a briefing call with senior officials and Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. State Police and state Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness officials also attended the briefing.
It was Murphy’s first official mention of the drone sightings.
Since Nov. 18, large groups of drones have appeared at night over northern New Jersey, predominantly over Morris and Somerset Counties, according to reports made to police. Some of the drones were the size of small cars and small planes, witnesses claimed.
The FBI is investigating the reports to determine if the drones pose a threat, and has asked for the public’s assistance in reporting sightings and submitting video and photos of the flights.
The FAA has closed air space to drones over Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster and Picatinny Arsenal in Morris County, which reported unauthorized flyovers last month.
The drones have affected local emergency responders as well, interfering with a medevac helicopter attempting to pick up a victim of a motor vehicle accident near Raritan Valley Community College in Somerset County last month.
U.S. Rep. Tom Kean Jr., R- N.J., listened to the briefing with Murphy and said in a social media post that he is taking the situation seriously.
“I will continue to push federal authorities to work swiftly to give the public a full understanding of the situation and work toward a resolution,” he said in a post on X.
Other unspecified members of Congress attended the Wednesday briefing as well. Messages left with the offices of Sen. Cory Booker, Rep. Mikie Sherrill and Rep. Josh Gottheimer were not immediately returned.
Murphy’s office did not immediately respond to questions about whether FBI officials attended the briefing.
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