Man With 'Drone' Detained Near White House

A man has been detained for trying to fly a foot-long aircraft near the White House, says the Federal Aviation Administration.

The suspect was apprehended in Lafayette Square, a spokesman for the air regulator told Sky News.

A federal law enforcement official told AP news agency it is not clear if the man planned to fly the drone at the executive mansion or whether he was trying to take aerial photos.

The park on the north side of the White House has been locked down while the incident is investigated, reports CNN.

The airspace around the nation's capital is more restricted than in any other part of the country.

It is illegal to fly drones in the Washington DC area without specific approval.

The FAA launched a campaign this week to raise awareness of the no-drone policy, which applies to a 15-mile radius of Ronald Reagan National Airport.

In January, a government employee accidentally flew a drone into the grounds of the White House , sparking a major security alert.

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