Expert fears terrorists will turn to drones in Britain

BRITAIN IS at risk of terrorist attacks from drones, a leading designer has warned.

Dr Stephen Prior told the Cheltenham Science Festival that so-called Islamic State (Isis) had already used drones in Iraq and Syria and he was surprised terrorists had not tried to do the same in Britain. Drones can weigh as little as a pound, fly up to 100mph and have their the GPS tracking system turned off, which makes spotting them difficult.

Dr Prior, a qualified drone pilot and lecturer at the University of Southampton, said: “I personally don’t design these systems to drop bombs on people’s heads. However, Isis has been one of the first terrorist groups to go and buy a very cheap drone, convert it and use it to very devastating effect in Iraq and Syria.

“They can go on a course to learn about it and nine months later they can build their own one and fly it around the world. I am surprised, frankly, that more drones have not been used to do bad things already.

“I think it is only a matter of time before somebody tries something.”

Dr Prior said counter-drone technology was a developing field, but eagles had been trained to take out a drone and a radio frequency (RF) transmitter gun could disable the electrics.

“In Japan they have built a drone with a massive net which can capture the second drone while it is flying and then drag it to safety.”