Washington/Berlin.
The US has apparently shot down the suspected Chinese espionage balloon. The rubble is now to be recovered by the military.
The US apparently has the suspected Chinese spy balloon, which has been flying over the country for several days, over the Atlantic shot down. This was confirmed by the US Department of Defense. A military operation is currently under way to recover the debris that fell into the sea.
“Have this afternoon US fighter planes (…) successfully crashed the surveillance balloon belonging to the People’s Republic of China, launched and owned by the People’s Republic of China, at high altitude over the waters off the coast of South Carolina in American airspace, at the direction of President Biden,” said US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Biden I gave permission to shoot down on Wednesday.
Spy balloon shot down: Videos show the crash
Videos are now circulating on social networks showing the shooting down and the one that followed Balloon crash should show. You can see a small explosion and a white object falling from the sky.
Before the shooting, US authorities had to close three airports in the eastern United States where the spy balloon was last on the road, prompted. The reason given was that they were supporting “the Ministry of Defense in a national security measure”. In front of journalists, US President Biden had emphasized with a view to the balloon: “We will take care of it.” According to US authorities, air traffic has now resumed.
Alleged spy balloon has been flying over the USA for days
The overflight of the spy balloon became known on Thursday. US Secretary of State Blinken then canceled a planned trip to China. A representative of pentagons stated that the balloon’s apparent aim was espionage and that it is currently flying over sensitive bases.
The balloon was first spotted over the state of Montana and then continued to fly east, where it now appears to be over the Atlantic was shot down. China claims it is a “civilian” balloon, used solely for meteorological purposes, and accidentally entered US airspace.
(fmg/dpa/afp)
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