New Jersey mayor says drones could be connected to missing radioactive material

While drones continue to be spotted in New Jersey, Belleville Mayor Michael Melham said that there is a possibility they could be connected to radioactive material that went missing in the state earlier this month.

"We know we have drones flying in a grid-like pattern," Melham said in an interview, according to Fox New York. "In my opinion, they're looking for something. What might they be looking for? Maybe that's radioactive material."

Radioactive material went missing in New Jersey on Dec. 2, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Its event notification report Dec. 13 says the material is "Less than IAEA Category 3 sources," meaning it's either "very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury."

"It was a shipment," the mayor stated. "It arrived at its destination. The container was damaged, and it was empty."

The Federal Aviation Administration last week issued two flight restrictions on the area surrounding President-elect Donald Trump's Bedminster golf club in New Jersey, following questionable drone activity. The drone sightings were first reported on Nov. 18, but still continue this week. 

Federal officials have claimed that they do not know much about the drones, but have assured the public that there has been no threat to the American people as a result of the activity. The Pentagon also said officials have not found any evidence that a foreign entity is behind it.