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| Ministers discuss Gatwick drone drama as suspects released | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Gatwick Airport drone drama which grounded hundreds of flights has been discussed by ministers in a Christmas Eve conference call. | |
| Sussex Police insisted it was not "back to square one" after releasing an arrested man and woman without charge. | Sussex Police insisted it was not "back to square one" after releasing an arrested man and woman without charge. |
| It said it was investigating 67 drone sightings but had earlier raised the possibility there may have been no drone at all. | It said it was investigating 67 drone sightings but had earlier raised the possibility there may have been no drone at all. |
| Gatwick said there had been "multiple sightings" of the equipment. | Gatwick said there had been "multiple sightings" of the equipment. |
| Around 1,000 flights were cancelled or diverted across three days last week after drones were reportedly spotted inside the perimeter of the UK's second biggest airport. | Around 1,000 flights were cancelled or diverted across three days last week after drones were reportedly spotted inside the perimeter of the UK's second biggest airport. |
| A 47-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman were released on Sunday after two nights in custody. | A 47-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman were released on Sunday after two nights in custody. |
| The airport has offered a £50,000 reward, through Crimestoppers, and another £10,000 has been put up by the charity's chairman Lord Ashcroft to catch the culprits responsible for the chaos, which affected some 140,000 passengers. | The airport has offered a £50,000 reward, through Crimestoppers, and another £10,000 has been put up by the charity's chairman Lord Ashcroft to catch the culprits responsible for the chaos, which affected some 140,000 passengers. |
| Det Ch Supt Jason Tingley said he hoped the money will persuade someone to come forward with the vital clue. | Det Ch Supt Jason Tingley said he hoped the money will persuade someone to come forward with the vital clue. |
| He said at the weekend it was a "possibility" there had never been a drone, as police had not been able to acquire any footage. | He said at the weekend it was a "possibility" there had never been a drone, as police had not been able to acquire any footage. |
| But he later clarified: "We are interviewing those who have reported these sightings, are carrying out extensive house-to-house inquiries and carrying out a forensic examination of a damaged drone found near the perimeter of the airport near Horley, which is close to the last reported sighting." | But he later clarified: "We are interviewing those who have reported these sightings, are carrying out extensive house-to-house inquiries and carrying out a forensic examination of a damaged drone found near the perimeter of the airport near Horley, which is close to the last reported sighting." |
| He said there were some "persons of interest" but would not reveal if police were close to making any further arrests. | He said there were some "persons of interest" but would not reveal if police were close to making any further arrests. |
| Ministers discussed the disruption in a conference call, a government source confirmed. | |
| Authorities regained control over the airfield early on Friday after the Army deployed unidentified military technology. | Authorities regained control over the airfield early on Friday after the Army deployed unidentified military technology. |
| An airport spokesman said: "We are clear that there were multiple confirmed sightings of drone activity at the airport. | An airport spokesman said: "We are clear that there were multiple confirmed sightings of drone activity at the airport. |
| "Therefore we took the necessary actions to ensure the safety of passengers using our airport. Safety will always be our number one priority. | "Therefore we took the necessary actions to ensure the safety of passengers using our airport. Safety will always be our number one priority. |
| "We continue to support the police with their investigations into this illegal and deliberate act to disrupt the airport's operations." | "We continue to support the police with their investigations into this illegal and deliberate act to disrupt the airport's operations." |
| It is believed that the Israeli-developed Drone Dome system, which can jam communications between the drone and its operator, was used. | It is believed that the Israeli-developed Drone Dome system, which can jam communications between the drone and its operator, was used. |
| However, experts have said it does not enable the person responsible to be tracked down and captured. | However, experts have said it does not enable the person responsible to be tracked down and captured. |
| John Murray, professor of robotics and autonomous systems at the University of Hull, said it could only "take the drone out of the sky". | John Murray, professor of robotics and autonomous systems at the University of Hull, said it could only "take the drone out of the sky". |