Federal authorities seize 23 drones near Boston World Cup venues

Federal authorities said Wednesday they have seized 23 drones that entered restricted airspace around Boston Stadium in Foxborough and World Cup fan events since June 11. Nationwide, more than 300 unauthorized drones have been seized around World Cup venues since the tournament began, according to the FBI.

Airspace restrictions and enforcement A spokesperson for the FBI’s Boston office said authorities are treating every unauthorized drone as a potential threat, regardless of the operator’s intent. The same spokesperson said the seizures are part of the most comprehensive airspace security and drone mitigation effort in U.S. history.

The FBI declined to identify the specific locations, the operators involved, or the circumstances surrounding the seizures.

Coordination and technology Federal officials said protecting the airspace over World Cup venues has required an unprecedented level of coordination among federal, state, local, and international partners. The spokesperson said authorities have deployed advanced drone detection and response technology and strict temporary flight restrictions around venues hosting World Cup games across the country.

The FAA established temporary flight restrictions ahead of the World Cup at stadiums, fan festivals, and team base camps. Those restrictions took effect June 1 and remain in place through July 21, two days after the tournament ends. The restrictions also extend to team training facilities and hotels.

In Rhode Island, federal officials established a no-fly zone with a radius of 1 nautical mile around Team Ghana’s training site at Bryant University and the team’s hotel in downtown Providence.