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Drones Seen Over Paris Landmarks for 2nd Night: French Officials

Drones were spotted flying over landmark locations in Paris for a second night running on Wednesday, local media reported.
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PARIS — Drones were spotted flying over Paris landmarks for a second night running, officials said Wednesday. French media said there were five sightings of small unmanned aircraft near the Eiffel Tower, the Bastille and the military museum at Les Invalides. The sightings were confirmed to NBC News by Paris prosecutor's office spokeswoman Agnes Thibault-Lecuivre.

It was unclear if the five sightings, reported between 11 p.m. Tuesday and 2 a.m. Wednesday (5 p.m. and 8 p.m. ET Tuesday), involved different drones or the same aircraft spotted Monday night over the U.S. Embassy, the Place de la Concorde and the Eiffel Tower. French officials have not been able to identify the operator of the drones, nor find out why they were flying. Police said they had never experienced so many sightings in one night.

In recent weeks, mystery drones have buzzed France's presidential palace in Paris as well as nuclear plants and military bases in other parts of the country. The French capital is still on edge following three days of shootings in and around the city in early January. Last month, a drone crashed into a tree in the White House grounds in what the operator later told officials was an accident.

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