Mildly radioactive drone lands on roof of Japanese PM's residence

TOKYO, April 22 (UPI) -- Japan will consider updating its UAV laws after a small drone containing radioactive material landed on the roof of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Tokyo residence.

The 20-inch wide, four-propeller drone, equipped with a camera and carrying non-hazardous amounts of radioactive cesium 134 and 137, was found by a member of Abe's staff Wednesday on the roof of the building, near Parliament. It is Chinese-made "Phantom" manufactured by DJI Technology Co., and of the same type flown onto the White House grounds in January.

No injuries were reported and the cesium samples on the drone had very low radiation levels. Police are nonetheless at a loss to explain who flew the tiny aircraft, although it was discovered moments after a court rejected a request by the Kyushu Electrical Co., in southwestern Japan, to restart two nuclear reactors. Japanese social media suggested the incident was a stunt orchestrated by anti-nuclear activists.

"There is a risk that unmanned aircraft could be used for a terrorist attack at events such as the Olympics or the G-7 summit," Chief Cabinet Secretary and primary government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said. "We have to quickly prepare legislation and rules" on drone use.

U.S. President Barack Obama similarly recommended drone regulation after a similar White House incident.