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Insight: Weaponised hobby drones causing a headache for Mideast security

4th May 2018 - 15:10 GMT | by Alex Jenkinson in Middle East

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On the evening of April 21 gunfire was heard in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as a recreational drone was shot down by Saudi security forces as it flew into unauthorised space near the Royal Palace.

Although references to the UAV as a ‘toy drone’ in some reports give the incident a comical air, the seemingly disproportionate response is understandable in context. Saudi Arabia and its capital have been targeted frequently by Houthi drone attacks, as the Saudi-led coalition continues its fight against the Iranian-backed group in its ongoing conflict in neighbouring Yemen.

This latest incident also throws a spotlight on the

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