Paris, March 4 (IANS): Four suspects eluded pursuing French police after being identified as responsible for launching and controlling a drone over Paris, media reported.

The police followed the drone for a distance of four km after eyewitnesses spotted and reported the unmanned aircraft east of the city, Efe news agency reported citing radio station France Info.

The police saw the drone land followed by the four suspects recovering the drone before fleeing the scene via the capital's peripheral highway.

According to France Info, seven drones were spotted by police on Tuesday night, most of them in the eastern part of the city.

One of the drones was spotted by a French policeman near the Place de la Republique in central Paris, while 10 other drones were spotted flying above areas including the Eiffel Tower and the Place de la Concorde on February 24 and 25.

The French government assured that it took these cases "very seriously", and ordered an investigation, as it was forbidden to use unauthorised devices in populated areas in France.

In recent months, drones were spotted overhead in several areas in the country, including locations that are expressly prohibited such as above nuclear plants and military facilities.

In January, another drone was briefly spotted flying above the Elysee Palace, the official residence of the French president.