LA residents panicked earlier this week when low-flying blacked-out helicopters began simulating an invasion of the Californian city. The shocking US military movement took place “without any warning” to local residents and has set off a frenzy among conspiracy theorists. The eerie nighttime footage captured by witnesses comes just days after a bizarre top-secret military aircraft was spotted “circling the LA area” for hours.
Videos uploaded onto social media showed black helicopters flying low between buildings in downtown LA.
Other footage showed Black Hawks and Little Birds landing on buildings before releasing armed forces.
Erica Gallo of Lincoln Heights told ABC: “We don’t think it was much higher than the steeple of the church across the street.
“They were low – low enough where you could see inside. I do think it would be nice to get a heads up you know?
“Nowadays you just never know what’s happening and we’re talking about it.
“Everybody has a fear especially after 9/11 happened when you see helicopters or airplanes that are flying too low.”
Leslie Ruiz added: “Four smaller helicopters in the front but the lights are all turned off and there was only red lights in each one of them and then another military helicopter came in – it was much bigger.”
The US military later claimed that they were simply conducting training exercises – but refused to elaborate on what the training was intended for.
A statement by the LAPD said: “This training is coordinated with the appropriate state, county, and city officials as well as private property owners. Safety precautions have been implemented to prevent unnecessary risk to both participants and/or area residents and property.”
Military officials claim the local terrain in LA provides the army with unique urban environments that service members may encounter when deployed overseas.
However, Tyler Glocken, from the conspiracy YouTube channel SecureTeam10, said the “squad of black choppers” appeared to be practicing for an “invasion”.
He also pointed to the “mysterious boom sounds” that were also reported at the same time.
Glocken posited that the military could have been preparing for an imminent earthquake event in California.
The mysterious military exercises comes just days after a P-8 Poseidon was spotted flying in circles for hours above the Californian city on Monday this week.
The Navy warplane is typically used for anti-submarine purposes, but can also carry an cyber warfare suite on board.