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| Gatwick drones: 'Military capability' withdrawn from airport | Gatwick drones: 'Military capability' withdrawn from airport |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| "Military capability" deployed to counter illegal drone flights at Gatwick Airport has been withdrawn, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. | "Military capability" deployed to counter illegal drone flights at Gatwick Airport has been withdrawn, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. |
| The Army was deployed as hundreds of flights were cancelled on 20 December following repeated drone sightings. | The Army was deployed as hundreds of flights were cancelled on 20 December following repeated drone sightings. |
| Gatwick said it had spent £5m to prevent future attacks, but would not comment on the nature of the system. | Gatwick said it had spent £5m to prevent future attacks, but would not comment on the nature of the system. |
| Sussex Police said no arrests have been made since a couple were released without charge on 23 December. | Sussex Police said no arrests have been made since a couple were released without charge on 23 December. |
| More than 140,000 passengers were affected by cancellations and delays during the 36 hours of chaos. | More than 140,000 passengers were affected by cancellations and delays during the 36 hours of chaos. |
| Following a further sighting on 21 December, the airport said the "military measures" had provided "the reassurance necessary that it is safe to reopen". | Following a further sighting on 21 December, the airport said the "military measures" had provided "the reassurance necessary that it is safe to reopen". |
| It is believed that the Israeli-developed Drone Dome system, which can jam communications between the drone and its operator, was brought in. | It is believed that the Israeli-developed Drone Dome system, which can jam communications between the drone and its operator, was brought in. |
| A £50,000 reward for information has been issued by Crimestoppers, which said it had "passed on close to 30 pieces of information to law enforcement within the first 24 hours". | A £50,000 reward for information has been issued by Crimestoppers, which said it had "passed on close to 30 pieces of information to law enforcement within the first 24 hours". |
| A suggestion by a senior Sussex police officer that there may have been no drones was later dismissed as a "miscommunication". | A suggestion by a senior Sussex police officer that there may have been no drones was later dismissed as a "miscommunication". |
| The force said it was investigating "relevant sightings" from 115 witnesses - 93 of whom it described as "credible" - including airport staff, police officers and a pilot. | The force said it was investigating "relevant sightings" from 115 witnesses - 93 of whom it described as "credible" - including airport staff, police officers and a pilot. |
| Chief Constable Giles York had said some of the drones spotted may have belonged to the police and caused confusion. | |
| However, he said he was "absolutely certain" that there was a drone flying near the runway during the disruption. | |
| The MoD said: "The military capability has now been withdrawn from Gatwick. The armed forces stand ever-ready to assist should a request for support be received." |