While security services at stadiums and public events continue to adapt to new health and safety protocols prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, another growing security concern has emerged - the risk of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) use.
Disrupting order at sports stadiums using UAVs is not a new phenomenon, but more people are realizing how easily damage can be inflicted on a stadium full of spectators and how detrimental these events can be to normal operations.
Imagine a UAV dropping white powdery substance onto a packed arena - even talcum powder could cause mass panic and injuries. Moreover, UAVs can play a small part in a broader range of actions: they can be used for reconnaissance to assess vulnerabilities before infiltration, or even spy on team practices to gain a competitive advantage.
At mass events, concerts, and rallies, wrongdoers can also provoke panic and stampedes with seemingly innocuous means that lead to a large number of casualties.