Man arrested over reported drone flights near Dutch port

A man who lives in Belgium has been arrested after reports of suspicious drone flights over the Eemshaven, a Dutch port with vital infrastructure and a permanent military presence. He has since returned to Belgium but remains a suspect, police said.

Police arrested him last Tuesday after receiving several reports of drone flights in the area. They confirmed his arrest following a report by Dagblad van het Noorden. His age and nationality have not been disclosed.

Flying a drone over the Eemshaven is prohibited. The port handles equipment for NATO partners, according to ANP.

Police have not specified what the man is suspected of doing. A police spokesperson told ANP they did not know the precise suspicion.

Other suspicious drone sightings have been reported in Groningen province, including near the chemical park at Farmsum and a solar farm in Scheemda, RTV Noord reported. Police said they did not believe those sightings were connected and had made no arrests in those cases.