A 4-kilogram drone hovering over a park during an event in Gifu Prefecture on Saturday suddenly crashed into the crowd, injuring six people including children, police said.

The victims, aged between 5 and 48, sustained minor injuries such as scratches on foreheads and shoulders, according to the police.

The drone, about 85 centimeters in diameter and 55 cm in height, was scattering sweets from the air at the park in Ogaki, central Japan, during the event showcasing robotic technologies, the police said. The event was organized by a local tourism association.

About 600 people, including some 100 children and their families, were gathered at the event site at the time of the incident, according to the organizer.

Police are questioning the 37-year-old male representative of a drone-producing company in the prefecture who was flying the drone.

According to the organizer, the man said he had acquired the transport ministry's permit to operate a drone at the event.