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By Theo Burman
Live News Reporter
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A swarm of drones has been spotted coming in from the ocean and flying over several parts of New Jersey, prompting concern from both lawmakers and law enforcement officials.
The ongoing drone sightings in both New Jersey and New York have led to significant discussion in Congress, with several representatives questioning the FBI over a lack of answers more than a month after drones were first reported.
Congressman Chris Smith, who represents New Jersey's 4th district, was the latest politician to highlight the frustration, describing an instance when a Coast Guard officer was followed by several dozen drones at night while on the water.
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Speaking in Congress Tuesday, Smith said: "So last night, I was on the beach park in Ocean County with the sheriff. He has been working every single night, he's got his own tethered drones chronicling, and one of his officers two nights ago, saw 50 drones coming off the ocean right there."
Newsweek has contacted the FBI for an update on the investigation into the drones via email.
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Smith added: "Then, last night, we had a number of other people here, including a commanding officer from the Coast Guard, who said that one of their 47-foot motor lifeboats was followed by between 12 and 30 of these drones as they went through the water. Followed, right behind them!"
Robert Wheeler Jr, who is the assistant director of the FBI's critical incident response group, told Tuesday's Congressional hearing on drone threats: "We do not attribute [the sightings] to an individual or a group yet.
"We're actively investigating, enlisting the help of the interagency task force and the public."
Wheeler also said that "there is nothing that is known" that indicates the drones are a potential harm to the public.
"We just don't know, and that's the concerning part. We're actively investigating and would like to answer those questions, but I don't have a better answer."
The drone sightings began in New Jersey in late November, and have recently expanded into New York, with more sightings reported from residents of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, who recorded up to 12 drones near the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy told residents on Monday that while no immediate threats have been identified, authorities are taking the incidents "deadly seriously."
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