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Apparent Attack in Venezuela Highlights Risk of Drone Strikes

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08.06.2018 at 06:07am

Apparent Attack in Venezuela Highlights Risk of Drone Strikes by Joseph Ax – Reuters

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused political foes of trying to kill him during an open-air speech on Saturday using explosive-laden drones, prompting a host of questions about the alleged attack and who might have been behind it.

Wherever the investigation leads, Maduro’s allegations raised the specter of unmanned aerial vehicles being used by militant groups or others to launch bombing, chemical or biological attacks, a tactic that has long worried security experts.

The market for commercial drones has flourished in recent years amid widespread availability and falling prices.

So-called “quadcopters” – drones with four rotors – that can be operated from more than a mile away and can fly for more than 20 minutes on one charge cost less than $1,000 to buy online, though they are generally capable of carrying only a limited payload.

Militant groups such as Islamic State have used drones to carry out attacks by dropping grenades or crashing into infrastructure.

There have also been incidents that raised the possibility of attacks on heads of state. In January 2015, a drone crashed onto the White House lawn after its operator lost control, prompting concerns that the U.S. president’s home could be vulnerable…

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