US detects balloon of unidentified origin over western United States

The US military has detected a balloon of unidentified origin over the western United States but does not consider it to be a threat, an American official told Reuters on Friday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The appearance of the balloon comes just over a year after a US fighter jet off the coast of South Carolina dramatically shot down what it said was a Chinese spy balloon collecting intelligence over the United States.

The US military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.