Published:
Feb 3, 2023 06:24 GMT
Previously, the US announced that it had detected an alleged Chinese spy hot air balloon in its airspace.
The Department of National Defense of Canada communicated this Thursday that it had detected a surveillance hot air balloon in its territory, flying at high altitude.
“Canadians are safe and Canada is taking steps to ensure the safety of its airspace, including the surveillance of a possible second incident“, says the statement published by the agency.
From the institution they detailed that “the North American Aerospace Defense Command, the Canadian Armed Forces, the Department of National Defense and other partners have been evaluating the situation and working in close coordination.” They also specified that Canadian intelligence agencies are working together with the US and “continue to take all necessary measures to safeguard sensitive information” of their nation against “threats from foreign intelligence services.”
“We remain in frequent contact with our American allies as the situation evolves,” they concluded.
Previously, the US reported that it had detected a high-altitude spy balloon on its territory. “The balloon is currently traveling at an altitude well above that of commercial air traffic and does not pose a military or physical threat to people on the ground. Cases of this type of balloon activity have been observed in recent years,” said Department of Defense spokesman Patrick Ryder.
NBC News reported, citing two US officials and a Pentagon source, that it is a hot air spy balloon from China. Meanwhile, the Pentagon source specified to the channel that the stratospheric device flew from the Aleutian Islands, in the Bering Sea, and reached the US state of Montana through Canada.
For now, it is not known if the reports from Washington and Ottawa are about the same balloon.
